SYLHET: Pakistan failed to capitalise on the available technology and let Bangladesh off the hook on the opening day of the second cricket Test in Sylhet on Saturday.

Bangladesh, after slipping to 116 for six, had recovered to 190 for six when Litton Das attempted a hook off Khurram Shahzad and gloved the ball through to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. After umpire Richard Kettleborough turned down the appeal and Shan Masood received no support from behind the stumps or from his bowlers, the Pakistan captain opted against a review.

Television replays later confirmed the ball had brushed Das’s gloves. Das was on 52 at that stage and went on to score a brilliant 126 to help Bangladesh post 278 after being sent in to bat. When play ended, Pakistan had reached 21 for no loss, with Azan Awais batting on 13 and Abdullah Fazal eight not out.

Shan’s DRS record has been a persistent weakness since he took over the Pakistan Test captaincy in 2023. On Saturday, he also passed on a review when Mushfiqur Rahim appeared to snick a Sajid Khan delivery through to Rizwan down the leg-side — though that proved less costly, as Mushfiqur fell to Mohammad Abbas shortly afterwards.

On the two occasions Pakistan did review, both were unsuccessful, television replays confirming the ball had struck down the leg side each time.

The fielding captain bears ultimate responsibility, and Shan has consistently lacked support from his bowlers and wicketkeeper in identifying genuine reviewing opportunities — a collective failing that extends beyond him alone.

Whether Pakistan’s DRS failures will affect the outcome of the Test remains to be seen, but Das’s sixth Test century ensured Bangladesh remained competitive long after Pakistan had appeared to have the match in their grip.

Das added 162 runs with the last four wickets, with the most significant partnerships coming with Taijul Islam for the seventh wicket — 60 runs from 114 balls, Taijul contributing 16 — and Shoriful Islam for the ninth, which yielded 64 runs from 73 balls with Shoriful scoring 12.

Das was the ninth batter dismissed as Hasan Ali wrapped up Bangladesh’s innings by removing Nahid Rana four balls later, ending a total of 278 that had looked unimaginable when the hosts were 116 for six.

Das faced 159 balls and struck 16 fours and two sixes, reaching his half-century from 93 balls before accelerating to three figures from 135 balls.

For Pakistan, Khurram Shahzad — who replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi — was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 17-1-81-4.

Mohammad Abbas claimed three for 45 and has now taken 109 Test wickets, with 100 of those coming outside Pakistan — making him only the sixth Pakistan bowler to achieve that distinction, after Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Mohammad Amir and Umar Gul.

Pakistan made three changes from the side that lost the first Test in Mirpur. Babar Azam returned in place of Imam-ul-Haq, Sajid Khan replaced Noman Ali, finishing with one wicket for 96 runs, and Khurram Shahzad replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Scores in brief:

2nd Test (day one of five, Sylhet, Toss: Pakistan)

BANGLADESH 278 all out, 77 overs (Litton Das 126, Najmul Hossain Shanto 29, Tanzid Hasan 26, Mushfiqur Rahim 23, Mominul Haque 22; Khurram Shahzad 4-81, Mohammad Abbas 3-45, Hasan Ali 2-49)

PAKISTAN 21-0, 7 overs (Azan Awais 13 not out, Abdullah Fazal 8 not out)