Hasan Mahmud creates history with Test hat-trick against Afghanistan

Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud became the first fast bowler from his country to take a Test hat-trick, achieving the feat on the third day of the lone Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

Match Details

Playing in the match, the 26-year-old Mahmud claimed his hat-trick in the 83rd over of Afghanistan's first innings. He bowled Ismat Alam on the third ball and had new batsman Qais Ahmad caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das on the fourth. After an initial not-out lbw decision against Zia-ur-Rahman on the fifth ball, Bangladesh reviewed the decision, and Hawk-Eye confirmed the ball hit the off stump to complete the hat-trick. Mahmud finished the innings with five wickets for 55 runs, bowling out Afghanistan for 240. Earlier, Bangladesh scored 346 runs in their first innings, securing a 106-run lead.

Overall Performance

According to Dainik Bhaskar, Bangladesh further strengthened their position by declaring their second innings at 372 for 7, setting a 479-run target for Afghanistan. Litton Das scored 102 runs from 117 balls, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim added 82 and 81 runs respectively. In the first innings, Afghanistan's Rahmat Shah scored an unbeaten 105, while Abdul Malik contributed 62 runs. For Bangladesh, Ebadot Hossain took four wickets in the first innings and two in the second.

Context

Test cricket hat-tricks remain rare achievements that require a bowler to dismiss three batsmen on consecutive legal deliveries within the same match. Fast bowlers historically find it harder to secure hat-tricks in Asian conditions compared to spinners due to pitch wear, making Mahmud's milestone a rare feat for Bangladesh cricket.