A Promising Debut for Azan Awais
Azan Awais made history by becoming the 14th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut during the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. His performance was a standout moment in the match, showcasing his potential and composure under pressure.
A Moment of Concern
During the early stages of his innings, Awais faced a challenging moment when he was struck in the head by fast-bowler Nahid Rana while batting on 7. The Pakistan physios had to check him twice for a concussion, but after the initial shock, he regained his focus and continued to play with confidence.
Awais reflected on the impact of nerves during the game, stating that although he wasn’t nervous while facing Rana, he felt a bit anxious before stepping out to bat. However, after the incident, he quickly adjusted and demonstrated his ability to handle pressure.
“I was not nervous when I was facing Nahid, though I was a little bit nervous when I was going to bat. But when the ball hit my helmet, I was a little zoned out for five minutes. But then I realised it was time to show how I was, so I am glad with how I responded. In international cricket, you will face difficulties. They plan for where they’re going to bowl to you, so you have to find solutions to that if you want to score runs,” Awais said.
A Strong Performance
Awais’s innings, laced with 14 boundaries, was crucial for Pakistan as they reached 386 after electing to bowl first. He formed vital partnerships with Imam ul-Haq and fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal, contributing to a solid platform for the team. Finishing day 2 unbeaten on 85, he reached his century off 153 balls before being dismissed by Taskin Ahmed for 103.
Pride and Confidence
Awais expressed immense pride in making his debut for his country and contributing significantly to the team’s success. He believed that his form from domestic cricket could translate well to the international stage.
“I’m a very calm guy. I just did a normal celebration. It’s my first one. It’s a very blessed feeling for me. It’s a dream to play Test cricket. It’s my debut match, and I performed really well for my country. I performed well in domestic cricket, so I was confident that I would do well. I was a little bit nervous when I was playing the first ball, but then once I scored my first run I began to feel better and more confident,” he added.
Preparing for the Challenge
Awais came into the Pakistan team with a strong record in first-class cricket, having scored 2,673 runs in 33 matches at an average of 48.60. He joined the ranks of greats like Javed Miandad and Younis Khan by scoring a century on debut in Test Cricket. He also mentioned that he was prepared to play on a Mirpur wicket that had enough in it for seam bowlers.
“In the last 2 years I played 33 first-class matches, and I performed really well in first-class cricket. The domestic cricket we’ve played gave us the kind of pitches to prepare for this green track. We got all kinds of pitches, and used a heavy Dukes ball so we knew how we’d have to play on these kinds of tracks. In your debut match, there’s always pressure but thankfully I absorbed it well.”
Match Highlights
Pakistan managed to put on 386 in response to Bangladesh’s 413 in the first innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up five wickets for Bangladesh, ensuring they held the first innings lead.
On Day 3, Bangladesh ended the day on a score of 7/0. They achieved their first innings total of 413 thanks to a century from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, along with scores of 91 and 71 from Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim respectively. Veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas was the standout performer for Pakistan, taking 5 wickets for 92 runs.
