Pakistan ended the year on a winning note after making a clean sweep against Bangladesh on a drama-filled day that showcased the unpredictability of Test cricket.
Pakistan performed well during 2011 and notched series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh etc and that became glowing history.
Now Pakistan have a tough series against England at the start of the next year which will reveal Pakistan standing. England have good spinners in the shape of Graeme Swann and Panesar and match winner fast bowlers like James Anderson, Steven Finn and many others to those Pakistan have to face in 2012 home series against England in UAE starting from January 17 in Dubai.
The management and Pakistan batsmen have to work hard to cope with England bowling attack and spinners must prepare themselves to bowled England out twice if they want to maintain their winning streak.
Misbahul Haq performed well during 2011 but tough task ahead for him to lead the team from front and shows his captaincy skills against England, that will reach to UAE two week earlier before the start of series to make themselves familiar with the conditions and to snatch series from one of the world’s best team that can turn the table on opponents on their day.
Now came back to the second Test, Pakistan while chasing 107 runs for victory lost opener Taufeeq Umar cheaply but Hafeez and Azhar Ali steadied the innings and galloped towards victory despite faded light. Both were dismissed with the win in sight and then senior batsmen, man-of-the-series Younus Khan and captain Misbahul Haq, completed the victory with a six over long-off.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 250 in both innings, the fourth time over the past seven years. Nasir and Mushfiqur Rahim batted sensibly and kept Pakistani bowlers at bay in the first session of the day. But in the second session, Pakistan snatched the initiative and sent remaining five batsmen for just 22 runs. In pre-lunch session Pakistan was unable to get breakthrough, as both the batsmen also played some powerful shots behind point. In the fourth over of the day, Nasir edged an attempted drive just past second slip, but that didn't stop him from a vigorous upper cut over gully for four off the next delivery.
Once the fast bowlers were seen off, Ajmal and Rehman dried up the runs with an accurate spell of bowling. Nasir and Mushfiqur showed a defensive technique. Nasir went on to score his maiden half-century while Mushfiqur made his second important contribution with the bat as the pair put on a century stand. After lunch, though, Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal bamboozled the lower order to revive fading Pakistan hopes for a victory.
It was Rehman who did the major damage after the interval. Nasir was hoodwinked by a straighter delivery that beat the bat and crashed into the stumps to end the partnership at 117. Bangladesh still had plenty of reasons to hope: the lead was already 80, Mushfiqur was set and nearing his half-century, the new batsman Elias Sunny had a first-class high score of 176, and the light usually fades well before the scheduled close of play.
Those hopes pretty much evaporated after a wild stroke from Mushfiqur, who charged out and looked to send a Abdur Rehman delivery out of the ground, only managing to top edge to mid-off to Saeed Ajmal who made no mistake.
After that no other Bangladeshis batsman could face Abdul Rehman and defy Pakistani bowlers.
Shakib Al Hassan became the third player to complete 1,000 Test runs from Bangladesh after Habibul Bashir and M Ashraful.
Pakistan should chalk out strategy prior to start of the home series against England at UAE and do accordingly to combat Graeme Swann and Panesar as they can problems to any team of the world on the slow UAE tracks. Pakistan must prepare supporting wickets under the supervision of Pakistani curators if they want to win the series.