Even after declaring their innings, Pakistan found themselves on the losing side—an unfortunate turn of events that has now placed them in a rare category.

When Pakistan declared their first innings, they seemed to be in control. Mohammad Rizwan was nearing a double century, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was batting aggressively. But captain Shan Masood made the unexpected decision to call the two batsmen back. At the time, it was seen as a positive move. Fielding for 113 overs and then having to bat at the end of the day is tough. If Bangladesh could lose 2-3 wickets quickly, the pressure would mount on them. But Zakir Hasan and Sadman Islam resisted, and from that moment on, Bangladesh's dominance in the Rawalpindi Test only grew, culminating in Pakistan's defeat.

 

                                         Shan Masood (front left) awaits the TV umpire's decision.

After the match, Masood was asked about the decision to declare. The Pakistani captain gave a diplomatic response, saying it was a strategic move to push the game forward and put Bangladesh under pressure in the fourth innings. On a wicket that was favorable for batting, Masood’s strategy wasn’t widely criticized at the time. But in hindsight, especially after the way Pakistan's batting collapsed in the second innings, it appears that Masood's decision backfired.

This defeat has etched an unwanted record for Pakistan. They are now the third team in Test history to lose a match after declaring their first innings with six or fewer wickets down. The previous two instances occurred in 1976 and 2006.

 

                                             Bangladesh team cheers after Shan Masood's wicket

The 2006 Adelaide Test between England and Australia bears a strong resemblance to Pakistan's loss in Rawalpindi. England, batting first, declared their innings at 551 for 6, thanks to a double century from Paul Collingwood and a 150 from Kevin Pietersen. In reply, Australia posted 513, with centuries from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. At the end of the fourth day, England were 59/1 in their second innings, and the match seemed destined for a draw. But what followed was a stunning collapse. England were bowled out for 129, with Shane Warne, Brett Lee, and Glenn McGrath leading the charge. Australia needed 168 runs in the final session to win and accomplished the feat, handing England a crushing defeat. That loss not only put England behind in the series but also broke their morale, leading to a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

The other instance of a loss after declaring an innings was quite different and involved India. During the 1976 Jamaica Test at Sabina Park, India were forced to declare their first innings at 306 for 6 due to uneven bounce and the fierce pace of the West Indies bowlers, particularly Michael Holding. Several Indian batsmen were injured, and captain Bishan Singh Bedi later stated that he declared the innings to protect his remaining batsmen. Despite being in the match after the first innings, India's second innings collapsed at 97/5, as their injured players were unable to bat. The West Indies chased down the 13-run target in 11 balls, winning the match and the series 2-1.

Pakistan’s loss in Rawalpindi now joins these two instances as another chapter in the history of unexpected Test defeats after a declaration.