Some cricket victories make the headlines; others make opponents uncomfortable. Bangladesh’s historic nine-wicket win over Australia in Darwin made headlines and should make other Test nations uncomfortable because it has achieved what many haven’t, including Pakistan, which has had extensive experience over the past 30 years.
Bangladesh hasn’t played much Down Under, yet they managed to defeat the mighty Aussies on their second tour of the country and in their third Test match in Australia, their seventh against each other. Impressive, isn’t it?
What’s even more impressive is that Pakistan can learn a few things from the former minnows of Test Cricket, especially since they are scheduled to play England in a couple of days in England.
Why take the names of Pakistan and Bangladesh in the same breath when one has played Test Cricket since 1952 and the other gained status in 2000? Well, first, before 1971, Pakistan and Bangladesh were the same country; second, they have played each other frequently in recent years, with Bangladesh winning all four Tests against Pakistan, both at home and abroad.
And now they have done what Pakistan has not managed for 31 years—defeat a full-strength Australian side in Australia. The last time Pakistan won a Test in Australia was in 1995, when Wasim Akram’s side defeated Mark Taylor’s men by 74 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
What’s more interesting is that Bangladesh didn’t even have Test status when Pakistan last dethroned the Aussies at home. So what can Pakistan learn from the Tigers?
1. The right man for the right job
Leadership is not necessarily about choosing the biggest name in the dressing room. Najmul Hossain Shanto may not have the international stature of senior players such as 39-year-old Mushfiqur Rahim or 34-year-old Momin ul Haque, but under his captaincy, the team has developed something Pakistan has struggled to maintain: stability.
Shanto led Bangladesh to a 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan earlier this year, and he was also at the helm when they achieved their first Test win in Australia. His field placements were perfect, and his bowling changes were on point. He seemed to have a plan in mind, and his men executed it.
Pakistan needs to consider a similar approach. For years, Babar Azam has shouldered an enormous amount of responsibility—as a full-time batter, an on-and-off captain, and a symbol of Pakistan cricket. Every defeat sparks a debate about Babar; every batting failure becomes another reason to question his leadership.
Perhaps Pakistan needs to reduce that burden. Babar is a world-class batter and has led Pakistan to many Test wins, but that does not mean he has to be responsible for everything else.
The right man for the right job means letting the captain captain, the best batter focus on batting, and management take responsibility for building the team. Bangladesh’s example shows that a team does not need a single superstar to carry everyone. It needs everyone to contribute.
2. Selection must be based on merit
That brings us to the second point, which is most crucial for all teams and uncomfortable for Pakistan. Bangladesh’s victory was a genuine team effort, with everyone performing because they wanted to make their visit count. Hasan Mahmud led the bowling attack, Tanzid Hasan scored a century, Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed with both bat and ball, and the rest of the side played its part. No one had to win the match alone.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has repeatedly struggled to separate reputation from performance. Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha have all faced questions about their consistency, while recently dropped Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also had periods when their performances did not meet the expectations attached to their reputations.
The issue is not whether these players are talented; they clearly are. The issue is whether any player should be undroppable. If a player is performing, he should play. If he is not, someone else should get an opportunity.
That is how competition works. Bangladesh has demonstrated the value of trusting players who are ready to perform rather than automatically selecting the most recognizable names.
Pakistan needs the same ruthlessness, which is hard to achieve because they have been selecting players more for reputation than for performance. Reputation may get you remembered; performance should get you selected. Once they change their tactics, things will improve, as they did in the West Indies, where all the pacers combined to take 20 wickets in a Test match after a long time.
3. Learn from your mistakes
Bangladesh’s transformation becomes even more impressive when you look at their past. In 2006, when Australia played Bangladesh in Chattogram, Jason Gillespie—promoted as a nightwatchman—scored an extraordinary unbeaten 201, which remains one of the most remarkable innings and a surprise performance in Test history.
Two decades later, Bangladesh went to Australia and bowled out the hosts for 198. The comparison is not about the venue—Gillespie’s double century came in Bangladesh—but about how dramatically Bangladesh has changed as a cricketing nation.
They are no longer the side that simply hopes to survive against stronger opponents; they have learned how to compete. Their domestic cricket has developed; their bowling resources have improved; their players have gained experience outside the subcontinent. Most importantly, defeats have increasingly become lessons rather than permanent identities.
Pakistan needs to do the same; a defeat should prompt questions, not be swept under the rug. Why did the batting collapse? Why did the bowlers lose control? Why was a particular player selected? Why wasn’t another player given a chance?
Instead, Pakistan often changes the captain, the coach, and a few players—and then returns to the same problems. Losing is part of sport, but repeating the same mistakes is a choice.
4. Believe in yourself
A couple of years ago, Pakistan announced Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten as their Red and White Ball coaches, respectively, but before they could make any progress, the Pakistan Cricket Board entrusted Aqib Javed with making important decisions, and both legendary cricketers subsequently resigned.
In contrast, Bangladesh decided to retain coach Phil Simmons, who was appointed in October 2024 to replace Sri Lanka’s Chandika Hathurusingha, and the results paid off within two years. At the moment, they are ranked fourth in the current cycle of the ICC Test Championship, behind Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, and well ahead of India and Sri Lanka, ranked 5 and 6.
Bangladesh went to Australia knowing the history; they knew Australia was the favorite. They knew they had never won a Test there and that they were playing one of the strongest teams in the world on its own turf. But they did not play like a team waiting to lose, which sadly is exactly what Pakistan has been doing for the last 30 years whenever they tour Down Under.
On many occasions, they have come close to winning a Test in Australia but have faltered at the last moment. Some call it inexperience, but Bangladesh is far less inexperienced; some term it a battle of nerves; yet Bangladesh hasn’t been to Australia as often as Pakistan and kept calm throughout the match. They went to Australia to win, not just to play, and that’s why they succeeded in causing an upset.
5. Make the process trustworthy
This may be the biggest lesson of all. Bangladesh did not become a competitive Test nation overnight; they gained Test status in 2000 and spent years building a domestic structure and cricketing culture of their own.
Their progress has been gradual yet unmistakable. They won their first overseas test in 2009 and beat England in 2016, Australia in 2017, and Pakistan in 2024. In 2026, they defeated Pakistan 2-0 at home and have now beaten Australia in Australia.
Pakistan has talent to spare. What it needs is a process that players, coaches, and supporters can trust. A youngster should know that strong domestic performances can earn him a place in the national team. A senior player should know that poor form can cost him his place. A coach should have the authority to make difficult decisions, and successful players should be rewarded consistently.
Bangladesh built a system in which players could develop into international cricketers. Pakistan needs to build one in which players know exactly what they must do to get there. The Tigers’ victory reminds us that cricketing nations rise when they choose the right people, select on merit, learn from mistakes, believe they belong, and trust the process.
Pakistan does not need to follow Bangladesh’s lead. It simply needs to learn from what Bangladesh is doing right—and finally build a cricket system that rewards performance rather than reputation.
