Khurram Shahzad Labels Litton Das ‘Extremely Lucky’ After Crucial Century in Sylhet Test
Khurram Shahzad admitted Pakistan lost a crucial edge on the first day of the second Test in Sylhet, pointing to a missed review that allowed Litton Das to remain at the crease and go on to score a match-changing century.
Pakistan’s Early Dominance
Pakistan began the day in complete control, thanks to a devastating new-ball performance from Shahzad. The fast bowler ripped through Bangladesh’s top order, reducing the hosts to a precarious 116 for 6 at one stage. Drawing eerie parallels to his six-wicket haul in Rawalpindi, Shahzad once again exploited early pitch movement to dismantle the batting lineup.
“We bowled them out under 300, and this pitch is different to Dhaka,” Shahzad said at stumps. “I think it’ll still be quite good for batting. There were cracks and uneven bounce there. Here, there is not so much and we’ll try to score 400–450.”
Litton’s Resistance and the Turning Point
With the innings hanging by a thread, Litton Das anchored the lower-order fightback. Tasked with shielding weaker batters at the other end, he shifted gears from survival to aggression as the partnership grew. His defiance echoed his 138 in Rawalpindi—another rescue act that followed a similar collapse.
This time, it was the seventh-wicket pair with Mehidy Hasan Miraz that changed the complexion of the innings. Their resilience culminated in 162 runs from the last four wickets, pulling Bangladesh from the brink to a more respectable 278 all out.
A Moment That Could Have Changed Everything
The most critical juncture came when Shahzad bowled a bouncer to Litton, then on 52. The ball brushed the gloves and flew to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan’s appeal was half-hearted, and with only one review remaining, they opted not to challenge the on-field not-out call.
UltraEdge later revealed a clear spike—confirming contact. Litton, given reprieve, capitalized ruthlessly, adding another 74 runs before his eventual dismissal.
“We were unlucky to miss that review,” Shahzad admitted. “If we’d got him out then, the results would have been totally different. But it’s part of the game and partnerships can happen. Sometimes it happens that you let momentum go and don’t get the lower order out. If Litton had got out at that stage, I think we’d have bowled them out for 200.”
Defending Pakistan’s Approach
Some critics suggested Pakistan’s aggression waned as the day progressed, but Shahzad strongly rejected the notion. He highlighted two clear chances created off his own bowling—one the missed review and another a dropped catch at square leg.
“We did attack, but when you attack, you concede runs as well,” he explained. “As for the field setting, that’s according to the situation. We bowled him a few bouncers. Two chances were created off my bowling. We were trying to keep the pressure on.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the late surge, Pakistan remains in a favorable position. Shahzad believes the pitch offers less danger than Dhaka and backs his team to post a substantial total in response. However, Litton’s century—a blend of grit and fortune—has ensured Bangladesh didn’t fold, keeping them within touching distance as the Test heads into Day 2.
For Pakistan, the cost of one unreviewed decision may extend beyond runs. It could end up defining the momentum of the entire match.
Aarav Malhotra is a cricket features writer from Pune specializing in player biographies, IPL season stories, and emerging cricket talents. His content focuses on storytelling-driven sports journalism optimized for modern cricket audiences and search platforms.
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