Pakistan’s demanding red-ball cricket schedule, which includes nine Test matches over the course of the next five months, got off to a soggy start with a wet outfield on Wednesday as the opener Test against Bangladesh was delayed by overnight rain. Based on the upcoming red-ball contests, Pakistan is hoping to intensify their drive for a berth in the World Test Championship final. The two-Test series against Bangladesh will serve as a springboard for more difficult matchups later in the season.
However, a soggy outfield caused the first Test match between India and Bangladesh to start later than planned at Pindi Stadium. The match authorities have arranged an inspection to assess the situation and determine when play could resume while mop-up operations are in progress.
Shan Masood, the captain of Pakistan’s Test team, wants to focus on assembling a strong team that can go all the way to the championship and is looking to build on this series for the upcoming matches.
“We have 20-25 players who are part of our squad. We initially felt that it was our ideal chance to check Muhammad Hurraira – what he could offer the Pakistan team after doing so well in domestic cricket in the last three or four years. We rested Imam in this series. Saim, who is in good touch now, showed potential in the second innings against Australia. As a team, you have to send a message of continuity. So we will try to back the players. We want to give him a fair chance,” said Shan Masood.
Former captain and important Test batsman Babar Azam’s form will also be scrutinized by Pakistan; his average dropped from 60 in the 2019–2022 season to 37.41 in the run-up to the Test series against Bangladesh.
Babar’s total in nine Test matches over the past two seasons has been a single hundred and three half-centuries. Babar averaged 21, which was his lowest series average since 2017–18 in his most recent red-ball cricket series.
Babar Azam has not only lost his form but also diminished in the team’s respect and authority. In the aftermath of the dismal T20 World Cup campaign, he has already lost his captaincy in Tests and ODIs and is also set to lose the T20I role.
The Pakistani cricket community will be hopeful that in the busy upcoming season, Babar finds his form again.
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