Bangladesh suffered another crushing defeat and lost the inaugural test match of 2nd Asian Test championship at Multan by a huge margin of an innings and 264 runs on 31st August. This was the fourth test match played by the minnows of world cricket since gaining full Test playing status last year. Unfortunately Bangladesh's performance in Test Cricket has so far been rather disappointing, as all the four test matches played have resulted in humiliating defeats. Many feel they may have been granted test playing status a little early. A possible solution would be, in order to build up a strong and confident team, to play more matches against various 'A' teams with a few test matches in between.

More exposure to international cricket will enrich their experience and improve their credentials. For Bangladesh, however, there is nothing much to worry about because Test Cricket's 124 year history provides many instances where new entrants had to suffer heavily in their infancy and even over long periods thereafter. For instance, South Africa lost all their first eight tests (1888 - 89 to 1898 - 99), New Zealand had to wait 26 years (44 Tests) for their first win and India, after their test status in 1932 registered their first victory in 1951-52. No doubt with so much innovation in modern day cricket coupled with top class coaches Bangladesh will make quick progress.

Presented below is a brief review of the test matches Bangladesh has played to date:

Inaugural Test v India at Dhaka, 10-13 November, 2000

Bangladesh started off Test Cricket on a very high note by scoring 400 in their inaugural innings. Aminul Islam scored 145 yet it was not enough to stop the India from winning. India first gained a narrow 29 run lead in the first innings and later made Bangladesh crash to a low total of 91 in the second. Ultimately, India comfortably won by 9 wickets. Man of the match, left arm Indian spinner Sunil Joshi claimed 8 wickets and scored the highest score of 92 in India's total of 429. Bangladesh's skipper Naimur Rahman was a notable performer for the home team, claiming six wickets for 132 runs off 44.3 over. For Bangladesh, however, the creditable achievement was their first innings total of 400 in their maiden test, which is the 2nd highest in Test Cricket after Zimbabwe's 456 against India at Harare in 1992 - 93.

Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, 19-23 April, 2001

After their defeat in the inaugural test match there was no change of fortune when Bangladesh visited Zimbabwe for their first away series. At Bulawayo they were out classed by Zimbabwe by an innings and 32 runs. For the visitors the only memorable feature were the two glorious knocks of 62 and unbeaten 85 by opener Javed Omar. In fact Javed Omar was the first debutant opener since 1899 to carry his bat in Test Cricket. Aminul Islam also scored a good 84. Built on Guy Whitthall's century (119) and equally superb fifties by Heath Streak, Andy Flower and Grant Flower, Zimbabwe totaled 457. Despite this dominance by the home team's batsmen, Manjurul Islam produced an excellent bowling performance by claiming six wickets for 81 off 35 overs. Bangladesh collapsed for 168 in the second innings to loose the match.

Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Harare 26-30 April, 2001

Bangladesh was beaten yet again and Zimbabwe won the series too. Put into bat, the visitors scored 254. (Mehrab Hussain 71 and Habibul Bashar 64). Heath Streak and RW Price claimed four wickets apiece. Zimbabwe amassed 421 in reply. Heath Streak (87), Grant Flower (84), Alistair Campbell (73) and Guy Whittall (59), all scored fifties. Debutant Enamul Haque, Naimur Rahman and Mohammed Sharif claimed two wickets each. Bangladesh collected 266 in the second innings. Habibul Bashar (76) and Al Sarhariar (68) scored fifties. Watambwa claimed four and RW Price three wickets. Later Zimbabwe coasted to an easy 8 wickets victory, scoring 100 for 2 in 29.3 overs. Guy Whittall with a knock of 60 in the second innings won the man of match of award.

Bangladesh v Pakistan at Multan, 29-31 August, 2001

Pakistan crushed Bangladesh by a wide margin of an innings and 264 runs. The match was completed in a little over two days. By virtue of this victory Pakistan gained a maximum of 24 points to commence the 2nd Asian Test Championship on a very happy note. Man of the match, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria bagged a match haul of 12 wickets for 94 runs. The other significant feature of the test match was Pakistan's equaling of Australia's world record for most centuries (5) in a test match innings established against the West Indies at Kingston (Jamaica) in 1954-55. Five Pakistani batsmen plundered runs against the weak visitor's attack. Pakistan rattled up 546 for 3 declared with the help of five centuries (Saeed Anwar 101, debutant Taufiq Umer 104, Inzamam-ul-Haq retired hurt 105, Yousuf Youhana 102 not out, and Abdur Razzaq 110 not out). Except for one down batsman, Habibul Bashar's unbeaten knock of 56 the rest of the Bangladesh batting failed and were only able to muster 134 and 148 in the two innings. It was unfortunate Bangladesh failed to secure any bonus point from the match.

Bangladesh's record in Test Cricket (To date)

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn
India 	        1	0	1	0
Zimbabwe	2	0	2	0
Pakistan	1	0	1	0
Sri Lanka	1	0	1	0
Total	        5	0	5	0

· Highest Innings total		: 400 v India at Dhaka in 2000
· Lowest Innings total		: 90 v Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2001
· Highest individual innings	: 145 by Aminul Islam v India at Dhaka 
                                  in 2000
· Best Bowling in an innings	: 6/85 by Manjurul Islam v Zimbabwe at
                                  Bulawayo in 2001. 6/132 by Naimur Rahman
                                  v India at Dhaka in 2000

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