Watch: Khurram Shahzad's nip-backer stuns Najmul Hossain Shanto as he claims maiden Test wicket at home

Pakistan pacer Khurram Shahzad has been enjoying a great time with the ball in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Khurram Shahzad is currently playing his only second Test, having played his debut match against Australia in December 2023, and his first Test at home.

The 24-year-old pacer has so far been impressive in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Before the drinks break, Khurram Shahzad had already taken two crucial wickets in his 13 overs, wherein he conceded only 36 runs to the Bangladesh cricket team.

Khurram Shahzad's fiery spell shakes Bangladesh in Rawalpindi Test

His first victim was the Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was clean bowled by the Pakistani pacer for just 16 runs off 42 balls. Khurram Shahzad claimed Shanto's wicket with a stunning delivery in the 27th over of Bangladesh’s first innings in the ongoing Rawalpindi Test on Day 3.

On the fifth ball, Khurram Shahzad bowled a nip-backer from a good length, which snuck through Najmul Hossain Shanto's defense as he leaned forward to defend. As Najmul Hossain Shanto moved forward to defend, the ball swung back in from outside off and sneaked through to clip the off and middle stumps, leaving the Bangladesh captain stunned.

It was a well-earned wicket for Khurram Shahzad with a well-executed delivery, showcasing his skillful bowling in his first Test at home. Pakistan Cricket also shared a clip of how Khurram Shahzad rattled Shanto's stumps to get his maiden Test wicket on his home soil on Friday, August 23.

Watch here how Shahzad clean bowled Najmul Hossain Shanto stunningly:

The stumps are rattled! ⚡

Khurram Shahzad takes his first wicket at home 🙌#PAKvBAN | #TestOnHai pic.twitter.com/bF6VNLgxL2

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 23, 2024

Khurram’s next target was Mominul Haq, and the Pakistani pacer dismissed the Bangladesh batter in a similar fashion. Mominul was cleaned and bowled after notching up an impressive fifty.

He struck again with a delivery similar to the one that dismissed Shanto, bowling out Mominul by a nip-backer from around the wicket in the first ball of the 52nd over in Rawalpindi.

Mominul Haq also became the victim of Khurram

The ball came back in sharply from outside off, slipped past Mominul's inside edge, and broke through his defense to hit the stumps. Khurram has so far been lethal in the ongoing first Test in Rawalpindi, where the Bangladeshi batters found it tough to counter or escape his trap.

Speaking about the match, Pakistan declared their first inning at 448/6 in the ongoing Rawalpindi Test. Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud each scalped two wickets for Bangladesh, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan each earned one success.

However, Bangladesh didn’t have a great start, but their opener, Shadman Islam, who is close to his century, and Mominul kept the hosts in the hunt in the ongoing first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Zakir Hasan lost his wicket to Naseen Shah for just 12 runs off 58 balls in Rawalpindi.

Earlier, Shanto had said at the toss, “The wicket has moisture, so it will help our seam bowlers. We have a very good combination with seam bowlers and allrounders; we had a very good preparation.”