On Wednesday, Pakistan scored a reasonable score with Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel scoring half centuries following early losses on a rain-delayed first test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan reached 158/4 at stumps following early losses
Bangladesh won the toss and bowled first, destroying the hosts’ batting line on a beneficial pitch. Vice-captain Shakeel was undefeated on 57* (92) while wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan made 24* (31). After being selected to bat first, Abdullah Shafique (2), skipper Shan Masood (6), and Babar Azam (0) were removed in the first 10 overs by Bangladesh’s pace attack.
After losing three wickets early, Saim Ayub and Shakeel took the hosts to 81-3 at tea in excellent batting conditions under the sun. The pair saved Pakistan with a 98-run partnership.
When Saim was removed in the 32nd over, the partnership was performing well. Saim scored his first Test fifty in the third innings. He scored 56 from 98 balls with four fours and a six. Shakeel and Rizwan led Pakistan to a respectable standing. Rizwan was undefeated at stumps on 24.
In the 20th innings, Shakeel scored his seventh fifty. Previously, he and Saeed Ahmed were Pakistan’s fastest 1,000 test run batsmen. Both Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud took two wickets for Bangladesh. Pakistan’s red-ball team’s first match under new coach Jason Gillespie.
After the match, visiting fast bowler Hasan Mahmud told the media: “We will try to bowl out Pakistan for under 200 runs.” He replied that management decided not to include spinners.
