Bangladesh have produced one of the most significant Test triumphs of their history, defeating Pakistan by 78 runs in the second match at Sylhet to complete a 2-0 series sweep. The result not only sealed a red-ball turnaround in the rivalry, but also extended Bangladesh’s growing ability to dominate Pakistan over multiple campaigns.
Pakistan were chasing 437 after Bangladesh posted 278 in the first innings and followed with 390 in their second. The visitors battled hard on the final day, with Mohammad Rizwan driving the resistance through a 94, while Shan Masood made 71, Salman Agha also scored 71 and Babar Azam contributed 47. Despite that fight, Pakistan were dismissed for 358 in the fourth innings, handing Bangladesh the win as Taijul Islam picked up six wickets.
The victory gave Bangladesh their first Test series whitewash over Pakistan on home soil. It also continued a striking run of form against the same opponents. Bangladesh had already beaten Pakistan 2-0 away in 2024, their maiden Test series win against Pakistan. With the Sylhet result, Bangladesh have now won four consecutive Tests versus Pakistan across two separate series.
Litton, Mushfiqur and Taijul build Bangladesh’s historic sweep
The turning point of the match came through Litton Das during Bangladesh’s first innings. Pakistan elected to bowl first and Bangladesh were struggling at 116/6, but Litton steadied the innings with a composed 126 off 159 balls, lifting the hosts to 278. Khurram Shahzad finished with four wickets and Mohammad Abbas took three, yet Bangladesh had already found a route back thanks to Litton’s recovery.
Pakistan responded with 232, allowing Bangladesh to carry a 46-run first-innings advantage. Babar Azam led the reply with 68, while Sajid Khan’s 38 helped keep the innings moving late on. Bangladesh’s bowling spread the wickets around, with Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam taking three each, while Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed two apiece.
The first-innings edge became decisive when Bangladesh pushed the contest further in the third innings. Mushfiqur Rahim struck 137 from 233 balls, registering his 14th Test hundred, and reached 16,000 international runs during the knock—making him the first Bangladesh batter to get there. Mahmudul Hasan Joy added 52, and Litton backed up his earlier century with 69 as Bangladesh compiled 390 to force Pakistan into a demanding chase.
Pakistan did not let the chase fade quietly. Shan Masood and Babar Azam gave the run at the start, before Rizwan and Salman Agha combined to create the partnership that briefly made the match look dangerous for Bangladesh. Their 134-run stand brought Pakistan back into the equation, and Rizwan’s 94 kept them alive deep into the final day.
However, Bangladesh broke the resistance at the right moment. Taijul struck repeatedly, and Shoriful Islam removed Mohammad Rizwan when he was six short of a century. From there, Pakistan slid from 358/7 to 358 all out, adding no further runs. Taijul sealed the final blow by catching Khurram Shahzad at deep mid-wicket.
Litton was named Player of the Match for his first-innings hundred and his follow-up 69 in the second innings. Mushfiqur Rahim earned Player of the Series recognition after his crucial second-innings century at Sylhet and for his broader impact across the two Tests.
The WTC slide
The outcome carried weight for the World Test Championship as well. Bangladesh’s back-to-back victories strengthened their standing in the 2025-27 cycle, while Pakistan’s tournament progress suffered again after they had already been penalised with eight WTC points for slow over-rate in the first Test.
For Pakistan, the loss will be hard to digest because they had chances to swing the match. They pinned Bangladesh down to 116/6 on the opening day, then produced a serious fight in the fourth innings through Rizwan, Masood, Salman and Babar. Yet they could not finish the job in the first innings, allowed Bangladesh to secure a lead that proved too big, and then watched as Mushfiqur and Litton pushed the target beyond reach. In the end, Pakistan lost their final three wickets without adding a run, even though the chase still had a pulse.
For Bangladesh, the sweep reads like a statement of intent. The 2024 away series win had already shattered older barriers in the rivalry, and the 2026 home sweep removed any suggestion that the earlier success was a one-off. Litton’s innings prevented collapse, Mushfiqur shaped the match in Bangladesh’s favour, and Taijul delivered the decisive finale. Against Pakistan, Bangladesh have turned a historic breakthrough into a repeatable red-ball pattern.
