Pakistan cricket team will begin their two-match Test series against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium from Wednesday (August 21). The Shan Masood-led side are currently in 6th position on the World Test Championships (WTC) points table in the current cycle with 2 wins and 3 losses in their 5 matches so far.
While their opponents Bangladesh are in 8th position with just 1 win in 4 matches and 3 losses. It will be great opportunity for the home side to make rapid progress and move up the points table to at least the third position if they can complete a 2-0 whitewash against Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side.
The political turmoil back home in Bangladesh hasn’t helped in the preparation of the visiting side. Bangladesh had to arrive in Pakistan early to prepare themselves for the series. The team have suffered another big blow as regular opener Mahmudul Hasan has been ruled out of the opening Test starting this week with injury.
“Joy had complained of pain in the right groin on 14 August while playing for Bangladesh A in the four-day match against Pakistan A. He underwent an MRI followed by physical assessment and it has since been confirmed that he has a Grade 1 adductor strain in the right groin,” National team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz website.
“He has begun his rehab. Such injuries usually take about 10 to 14 days to recover from. He will not be available for the first Test but we hope to have him fit for the second Test which starts on 30 August,” he added.
At least six players from the Bangladesh side have the advantage of turning out for Bangladesh ‘A’ team against the Pakistan Shaheens, although it wasn’t a great outing for many of them. Mahmudul Hasan Joy is ruled out of the first Test with a groin strain and Mushfiqur Rahim also picked up a finger injury during the game. Only Nayeem Hasan was impressive with both bat and ball.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are set to play an all-pace attack for the first time at home in a while. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has been released from the squad while Naseem Shah will bolster the attack along with Shaheen Shah Afridi. Khurram Shehzad, Mir Hamza and Mohammad Ali are the other pacers in the side.
The last time Pakistan played an all-pace attack at home was back in December 2019, when Test cricket returned to the country after 10 years.
Putting in the work
Kamran Ghulam-led Pakistan Shaheens focused on second four-day match vs Bangladesh A #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/orMn7DGx0M
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 18, 2024
Here are all the details about Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test series…
Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test will be played from August 21 to 25, 2024 while second Test will take place from August 30 to September 3, 2024.
Both the Tests in Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test series will take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after the 2nd Test was moved from Karachi due to ongoing construction work at the venue.
The Test matches between Pakistan and Bangladesh will begin at 10.30 AM IST.
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test series will not be telecast LIVE in India.
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test series will not be available for livestreaming in India.
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haque, Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Zakir Hasan, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan
