Hasan Mahmud becomes first Bangladesh pacer to claim Test hat-trick

Hasan Mahmud is fast emerging as the cornerstone of Bangladesh's Test bowling attack. The 26-year-old etched his name into the history books on day three of the first Test against Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first Bangladesh fast bowler to claim a Test hat-trick and only the third Bangladeshi overall to achieve the feat.

The hat-trick unfolded in the 83rd over of Afghanistan's innings. Mahmud first struck with a back-of-a-length delivery to Ismat Alam that kept low and jagged back sharply. Alam failed to bring his bat down in time as the ball sneaked through to rattle the off stump.

He followed it up with a peach of a delivery. Once again bowling from a back-of-a-length, Mahmud got the ball to shape away from Qais Ahmed, enticing the batter into a tentative poke. The edge flew to wicketkeeper Litton Das, who dived full stretch to his right and completed a superb catch just inches above the ground.

Mahmud completed his hat-trick with yet another probing back-of-a-length delivery. He got the ball to nip back sharply into Zia-ur-Rahman, who played all around it. The ball struck his pad, prompting a loud appeal from the Bangladesh players.

Although the on-field umpire turned it down, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was convinced and immediately opted for the DRS. Replays vindicated his decision, with Hawk-Eye showing the ball crashing into the off stump. The brief moment of suspense quickly turned into jubilation as Mahmud was mobbed by his teammates after scripting a memorable chapter in Bangladesh cricket history.

Batting all-rounder Alok Kapali was the first Bangladeshi cricketer to register a Test hat-trick. He achieved the milestone against Pakistan in Peshawar in 2003 by dismissing Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, and Umar Gul in successive deliveries.

Right-arm off-spinner Sohag Gazi became the second Bangladeshi to claim a Test hat-trick when he removed Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, and Doug Bracewell during the Chattogram Test against New Zealand in October 2013.

Bangladesh players to register Test hat-tricks