Ravichandran Ashwin baffled by Pakistan’s shocking collapse against Bangladesh

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on Pakistan's shocking collapse against Bangladesh in the opening Test of the ongoing two-match Test series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which left fans and experts baffled.

On the Rawalpindi pitch, which seemed tailor-made for batting, Pakistan’s sudden downfall on the final day has raised serious questions about their approach and strategy.

What makes this defeat even more astonishing is that it was the first time Pakistan has lost a Test match to Bangladesh on home soil that no one saw coming.

Pakistan's collapse on a ‘Road’ of a pitch leaves Ravichandran Ashwin in shock

With a 10-wicket win in the first Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh recorded their first-ever victory over Pakistan in this format, which highlights the glaring issues in the game plan of the hosts.

The decision to field four seamers on a dry, spin-friendly pitch has come under intense scrutiny, with the former players and cricket experts slamming the team’s tactics as foolish.

Amidst the uproar, Ashwin also expressed his surprise at Pakistan's dramatic collapse.

The Indian spinner revealed that he was about to catch a flight when the match took its unexpected turn, but he watched the highlights of the match, which was nothing short of shocking.

Ashwin on his YouTube channel: “The match was in sleep mode for the first three days. Suddenly, Pakistan surprised me when I was about to catch a flight. When I saw the highlights of the match, I understood one thing. The proper, tired collapse on a final day. I haven't seen that for a long time.”

Reflecting on the unusual nature of Pakistan's collapse on the pitch in Rawalpindi, Ashwin said that such outcomes are rarely seen on surfaces like this.

He mentioned that typically, on a batting-friendly pitch, strong teams in first-class cricket would capitalize on the conditions, posting big totals in their first innings, but they still succumbed unexpectedly.

Teams don't surrender on a pitch like this: Ashwin

Ashwin further explained, “Teams don't surrender on a pitch like this. In first-class cricket, strong teams will bat first and hit big. The wicket will be a batting wicket. In those two days, they will pull off an all-out in a tired state. When the wicket crumbles, they will get all out again. I got that depiction. There is nothing in the pitch. It's an absolute road.”

Pakistan were bowled out for just 146 runs in their second inning despite Mohammad Rizwan fighting on the other side, and Ashwin said that he couldn't understand just what was happening in the match.

He signed off by saying, “In fact, in the end, Rizwan was staging a fight. I didn't understand a thing. Naseem Shah played a shot and left cheaply. I didn't understand what just happened. I didn't understand a thing.”

Now, Pakistan will be eager to stage a grand comeback in the second and final Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. This game will get underway on Friday, August 30. Bangladesh will then travel to India for a Test series next month.