• This was the 1657th Test match in cricket history.
• This was the fifth Test between these two sides. Pakistan have won all five.
• Bangladesh’s first innings total of 361 was their highest ever against Pakistan beating the 288 that they made in the first innings of first Test of this series at Karachi.
• The total was also Bangladesh’s second highest against all countries. The highest, however, still remains as 400 against India at Dhaka in 2000-01 in their inaugural Test match.
• The second wicket partnership of 167 runs between Javed Omar and Habibul Bashar was Bangaldesh’s best for this wicket against all countries. This obliterated the previous record stand of this same pair against South Africa at Chittagong in 2002-03.
• The third wicket partnership of 130 between Javed Omar and Mohammad Ashraful was the highest for Bangladesh for this wicket-position against any country. The pair improved upon the 84-run partnership between Javed Omar and Aminul Islam against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2000-01.
• Alok Kapali became first Bangladeshi and 29th player in Test cricket history to record the 32nd instance of a bowler grabbing a hat trick when he had Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul off his three consecutive deliveries.
• It was the fourth hat trick against Pakistan. Interestingly all four have been recorded on Pakistan soil.
• Shoaib Akhtar completed his 100 wickets when he had trapped Rajin Saleh lbw in the second innings. He became 11th Pakistani and 130th bowler in the world to do so.
• Shoaib became 15th Pakistani on 41st occasion to bag ten wickets in a match. He is second to do so against Bangladesh after Danesh Kaneria who had the figures of 12 for 94 at Multan in 2001-02.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Rajneesh Gupta)