Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud hopes his side can build on their improved performance at Peshawar for the third and final Test against Pakistan, which starts in Multan on Wednesday.

Although mercurial Pakistan will be expected to complete a clean sweep in the series, Bangladesh were heartened by their display in the second Test, where they earned a first-innings lead for the first time in 23 matches.

"The Multan Test is very important for us," Mahmud told Reuters on Monday. "We want to overcome the mistakes we made in the first two Tests and play much better cricket here.

"We will try to be positive.

"We were in the driving seat in Peshawar after two and half days, but then we let ourselves down in the second innings. Shoaib Akhtar also got back his rhythm and clicked for Pakistan. That was the deciding factor between both teams."

Apart from taking a first-innings lead, Bangladesh also celebrated their highest Test batting partnership a second-wicket stand of 167 between Habibul Bashar and centurion Javed Omar plus their first hattrick.

Part-time leg-spinner Alok Kapali took three for three to leave Pakistan 66 runs behind the touring side's first innings total of 361, but all that was later undone by Shoaib's raw pace and reverse swing as the home team regained control.

"They (Bangladesh) have proved worthy opponents," Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said after the second Test. "They have shown improvement despite their limited resources.

"In Peshawar, we were lucky that Shoaib Akhtar got into his rhythm at the right time and helped us win the match."

Pakistan, who won the first Test in Karachi by seven wickets and the second in Peshawar by nine wickets, will be determined to complete their first series whitewash at home since 1997.

"It is all about motivation," said Latif. "We have taken the series, but we made mistakes in them (the first two Tests).

"I think we are a much better side than Bangladesh and we will be looking for a win by a margin which confirms this difference."