Cricket

Coming into the Test series, Mohammad Hafeez had only scored 34 runs in four innings on the tour. He had only bowled in two of those innings after his action had been cleared by the ICC, but had gone wicketless. On the second day in Khulna, however, Hafeez was at the centerstage of  revival not only his own, but of Pakistan.

Hafeez had start drift and good control with his newly-remodelled action to pick up a wicket on the first day. On the second day, however, his dismissal of a fluent Soumya Sarkar triggered a Bangladesh collapse that saw the home side lose their last five wickets for 27 runs to be bowled out 20 minutes into the second session. Hafeez, introduced after 19 overs, induced a false shot in his second, breaking a 62-run partnership between Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim that had helped the home side ease past the 300-run mark. The rest succumbed in no time and Bangladesh were stalled to an underwhelming 332.

Hafeez's other telling contribution, however, was to come later. Making most of the excellent batting conditions, Hafeez led Pakistan's response with his eighth Test century.