Bangladesh PM phones team after historic nine-wicket Test win over Australia in Darwin
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated Najmul Hossain Shanto and his teammates by video call on August 16, 2026, following the Tigers’ nine-wicket Test victory over Australia in Darwin. The call came after Bangladesh produced their first-ever Test win on Australian soil.
The result was only Bangladesh’s second Test victory over Australia in the longest format, and BCB president Tamim Iqbal used the video link to introduce several players, including Hasan Mahmud, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim. When Tanzid was introduced as a “boy from Bogura”, the Prime Minister replied, “Not from Bogura, he is a boy of Bangladesh. He is representing Bangladesh, not Bogura.” Tarique also enquired about the players’ physical condition after their demanding four-day Test in Darwin, asking: “We are waiting in Bangladesh to welcome you. Is everyone feeling well? Some fatigue is natural. How is the heat there? Is it really hot? Just like in our country! Come back safely and in good health. The people of Bangladesh are waiting to welcome you.”
Hasan Mahmud spearheaded the bowling effort with a career-best 6-55 as Australia were bowled out for 198 in their first innings. Bangladesh then amassed 426, taking a 228-run lead that shifted control firmly to the visitors.
Tanzid played a central role in the Bangladesh innings, scoring 101 to become the first Bangladeshi batter to make a Test century in Australia, with additional lower-order runs helping build the advantage.
Australia offered resistance in their second innings, Cameron Green making 104, but Bangladesh’s bowlers limited the hosts to 284; Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five wickets and Hasan Mahmud added three more to finish with nine in the match.
Chasing 57, Bangladesh lost Tanzid to Josh Hazlewood for a duck, but Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque remained composed and steered the tourists to victory with nine wickets in hand.
The win made Bangladesh only the third Asian side, after India and Pakistan, to win a Test on Australian soil. With Bangladesh 1-0 up in the two-Test series, Shanto and his team will next face Australia in the second Test in Mackay on August 22.
