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3 pacers, 3 sacrifices: The untold story behind Bangladesh's Darwin triumph Bangladesh's historic nine-wicket win over Australia in Darwin was built on more than runs and wickets, with three pacers, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud making significant sacrifices to be part of the Test. History will remember the scoreline. Bangladesh won by nine wickets in Darwin, secured their first Test victory over Australia on Australian soil and produced one of the biggest wins in their 26-year Test history. Australia were bowled out for 198 in the first innings, Bangladesh responded with 426 and then restricted the hosts to 284 before chasing down 57. But behind that historic victory was another story — one of sacrifice. While the celebrations unfolded at Marrara Stadium, three Bangladesh fast bowlers had made choices that went beyond cricket. Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud put the Test series ahead of personal commitments and lucrative opportunities to be part of a campaign that ended in history. The success is visible. The sacrifices are not. Ebadot: A new father, but Bangladesh came first For Ebadot Hossain, the decision was deeply personal. The Bangladesh pacer had travelled to Italy to be with his family as he prepared to become a father for the first time. He was initially expected to miss the Australia tour, but injuries to Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam left Bangladesh short of options in the pace department. Ebadot subsequently chose to cut short his paternity leave and return to national duty. He was scheduled to return to Dhaka on July 29, just days before Bangladesh’s squad departed for Australia. With the team’s pace resources depleted, Ebadot joined Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed in the bowling attack. His return proved valuable when Bangladesh needed to break Australia’s resistance. Ebadot dismissed Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings before removing Alex Carey in the second, when Carey and Steve Smith were beginning to build a partnership. For Ebadot, the victory carried a meaning beyond the result. He had given up precious time with his family at a significant moment in his personal life to answer his country’s call — and played his part in a historic win. Taskin: Choosing Test cricket over the LPL Taskin Ahmed’s sacrifice was different, but just as significant. The fast bowler had a contract with Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League and had obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. However, he decided to withdraw from the tournament because he did not want a demanding T20 schedule to affect his preparation for the Australia Tests. Taskin had a clear concern. Bangladesh had already played six consecutive matches in Zimbabwe, and another four games in the LPL would have left little time to recover and prepare before travelling to Australia. He also acknowledged the financial implications of turning down the opportunity, but felt a Test series in Australia was too important to compromise. His decision was rewarded in Darwin. Taskin bowled an important role in Bangladesh’s pace attack, maintaining pressure through disciplined spells and taking three wickets across the match. He also contributed 13 runs in the first innings, helping Bangladesh build their commanding total. He gave up the immediate rewards of franchise cricket for the challenge of Test cricket in Australia. The decision ultimately became part of a victory that Bangladesh will remember for years. Hasan: Leaving Sri Lanka, arriving in history If Taskin stepped away from the LPL before it began, Hasan Mahmud left the tournament while it was still underway. Hasan had joined the LPL after a county stint in England, gaining valuable exposure to both red-ball and white-ball cricket. But with Bangladesh’s pace attack weakened by injuries, he left Sri Lanka midway through the tournament and returned to prepare for the Australia series. The move placed greater responsibility on his shoulders. With Nahid unavailable because of a side strain and Shoriful missing the first Test, Hasan was expected to share the new-ball workload with Taskin. He responded in emphatic fashion. Hasan produced a career-best 6-55 in Australia’s first innings, dismantling the hosts’ batting line-up and helping Bangladesh secure a significant advantage. He then added three more wickets in the second innings to finish with nine in the match and claim the Player of the Match award. His performance turned a personal sacrifice into a defining moment of Bangladesh’s historic victory. The scorecard will record Bangladesh’s nine-wicket win. It will record Hasan’s nine wickets, their 228-run first-innings lead and the contributions that helped them complete the chase. What it will not record is what happened before the Test began. Those decisions by Ebadot, Taskin and Shoriful happened away from the spotlight. But when Bangladesh walked away from Darwin with a victory that had once seemed unlikely, those sacrifices had become part of the story.