New Delhi: On the opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh’s pace bowlers exploited a greenish wicket to reduce Pakistan to 16-3, but half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel helped stabilize the innings, with Pakistan finishing at 158-4.
Despite early setbacks, Bangladesh had Pakistan reeling at 16-3 after a 4.5-hour delay to the toss due to morning rain.
However, left-handed opener Saim Ayub, who scored a resilient 56, and vice-captain Saud Shakeel, unbeaten on 57, mounted a formidable 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket. They combined aggression with patience over nearly two hours before Hasan Mahmud (2-33) made a breakthrough in the final session, dismissing Ayub caught at third slip.
Ayub, who weathered the initial seam and swing from Bangladesh’s pace attack, showcased his resilience with a 98-ball innings, featuring four boundaries and a six. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan remains unbeaten on 24 as Pakistan ended the day at 158-4.
After a delay caused by wet patches, bright sunshine allowed the conditions to improve, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the crucial toss. His decision to field first paid off as Bangladesh’s pace bowlers exploited the damp wicket effectively.
Hasan Mahmud enticed Abdullah Shafique (2) into an early drive, resulting in a stunning catch by Zakir Hasan, who dived full length to his right in the gully.
Pakistan skipper Shan Masood was dismissed in a controversial caught-behind decision by television umpire Darren Gough. Shoriful Islam’s (2-30) delivery jagged back into the left-hander, and despite a referral, Gough upheld the on-field decision of out. Masood, visibly upset, argued with on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough before departing.
Babar Azam’s struggles in Test cricket continued as he fell for a duck, trying to flick Shoriful down the leg side only to be caught brilliantly by wicketkeeper Litton Das.
Following these early setbacks, Ayub and Shakeel led a resilient recovery, countering the off-spin of Mehidy Hasan Miraz with aggressive sweeps and tackling the pace of Nahid Rana until Hasan Mahmud finally broke through.
