‘The plan was very simple’ – Hasan Mahmud reacts after heroic five-for in Pakistan’s second innings

Hasan Mahmud (Source – Getty Images)

Star of Day 4, Hasan Mahmud, cut a humble figure during the press conference at the end of day’s play in the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Monday, September 2. His five-for was instrumental in helping Bangladesh bowl out Pakistan for just 172 in their second innings.

Mahmud dismissed Abdullah Shafique and Khurram Shahzad in the dying minutes of Day 3 and on Day 4, he got the better of Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Ali, and Mir Hamza to bag his maiden five-wicket haul in the longest format of the game and second overall in international cricket. The right-arm seamer shared the credit with his teammates as Bangladesh ruled the roost on Day 4.

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“I should give credit to all team members who work hard with the ball every time. The plan was very simple, whenever you get the new ball, you try to hit the right line and lengths, whatever the team and captain wants,” Mahmud said in the press conference.

Mahmud also appreciated the efforts of fellow pacers – Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana, who bowled with a lot of steam. Nahid was particularly impressive after he picked up four wickets and also touched the 150 km/h-mark on several occasions.

“Whenever a fast bowler gets the ball, the only plan is to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. The more good balls he can bowl, the more success he will get. Taskin started the day with the wicket and then Rana came in and bowled beautifully. The momentum then shifted in our favour, and then I did my processes,” Mahmud, who finished with figures of 5/43 in 10.4 overs, added.

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Chasing a target of 185, Bangladesh got off to a blistering start as Zakir Hasan put the Pakistani bowlers to the sword. At Stumps, Bangladesh were 42/0, with Zakir batting on 31 and Shadman Islam on nine. The tourists need another 143 runs on Day 5 to win their first-ever Test series against Pakistan.