Bangladesh’s cricketers delivered strong performances with both bat and ball across the two Test matches in Rawalpindi. Despite outstanding contributions from Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh ultimately lost the series to Pakistan on their home soil. For the first time, Nazmul Hossain Shanto returned home after facing a whitewash by Babar Azam in the Test series.
However, following this hard-fought series, the team could not return home together. They arrived in two separate groups, with the first group landing on the night of September 4. Several players had already reached Bangladesh as part of this initial group, arriving at Dhaka airport at 11:30 PM local time.
Shanto, pacers Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, and Khaled Ahmed, series standout Mehidy Hasan Miraz, man of the match Liton Das from the second Test, opener Shadman Islam, who scored 93 runs in the first Test, and spinner Taijul Islam were among those who returned from Karachi via Dubai at 11:30 PM on September 4.
In addition to the players, the first group included head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, media manager Rabid Imam, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, physio Bayejidul Islam, and other members of the team management. They were greeted with flowers by BCB director Akram Khan, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, and Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu upon landing.
Meanwhile, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, and Nayeem Hasan are expected to return to Bangladesh from Doha at 2:15 PM with the second group. They will be accompanied by pace bowling coach Andre Adams, batting coach David Hemp, assistant coach Nick Pothas, and other members of the team staff.
Shakib Al Hasan, however, is not returning to Bangladesh. After traveling to Dubai with the team from Karachi, he took a flight to England. The former Bangladesh captain will play a match for Surrey against Somerset in the English county championship before heading to India for the upcoming series.
