DHAKA: Mohammad Abbas claimed his sixth career five-wicket haul and opener Azan Awais scored an unbeaten half-century on debut to lead Pakistan’s fightback in the first cricket Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Friday.

Abbas returned figures of 34-8-92-5 to dismiss Bangladesh for 413 after they had resumed the morning at 301 for four. When play ended on the second day, Pakistan had reached 179 for one, with 21-year-old Azan batting on 85 not out and fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal on 35 from 78 balls with six fours.

Imam-ul-Haq was the only wicket to fall, dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 45 after sharing a 106-run opening partnership with Azan. Imam struck six fours in a 72-ball innings.

Azan was struck on the helmet by a vicious Nahid Rana bouncer on the 14th ball he faced but showed no signs of discomfort thereafter, going on to face 133 balls in 210 minutes of batting and striking 12 fours. The left-handed opener forced his way into the side ahead of Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub after aggregating 1,251 runs in 18 first-class matches in 2025-26, and he justified his selection with a display of skill, patience, technique and sound stroke-selection in an innings that remains unfinished.

Azan became the 42nd Pakistan cricketer to score a half-century on Test debut, reaching the milestone from 65 balls with eight fours. The way the Sialkot-born batter is playing, he looks set to become the 14th Pakistan batter to score a century on debut, the last being Kamran Ghulam against England in October 2024.

Earlier, Abbas was once again rewarded for his ability to focus on line, length and controlled swing rather than pace, picking up four wickets on the day to help Pakistan bowl Bangladesh out for 413.

Abbas, playing his first Test since January 2025, dismissed Litton Das, who attempted a pull shot, then accounted for Mehidy Hasan Miraz — caught at point after playing away from the body — Taijul Islam, caught behind attempting to hook a bouncer, and Ebadot Hossain, also undone by a short-pitched delivery.

It was the sixth time in 28 Tests that Abbas had taken five or more wickets in an innings.

Abbas was well supported by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled considerably better than on the opening day. Shaheen finished with three for 113, his most notable scalp being Mushfiqur Rahim, whose off stump was sent flying by the left-armer. Mushfiqur had scored 71 from 177 balls with eight fours.

Scores in brief:

1st Test, Mirpur – day two of five. Toss: Pakistan

BANGLADESH (1st innings) 413 all-out, 117.1 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 91, Mushfiqur Rahim 71, Littan Das 33, Taskin Ahmed 28; Mohammad Abbas 5-92, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-113)

PAKISTAN 179-1, 46 overs (Azan Awais 85 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 45, Abdullah Fazal 37 not out)