First Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh starts in Rawalpindi tomorrow

The Pakistan men’s cricket team will take on Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series commencing at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from tomorrow (Wednesday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The second Test match between the two teams will be played at the same venue from 30 August to 3 September.

Pakistan are currently ranked sixth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. They have played two away series in the championship, winning 2-0 against Sri Lanka and losing 3-0 to Australia.

Pakistan are scheduled to play nine Test matches this season, their busiest Test season since 1998-99. Seven of these Test matches will be played at home, including two against Bangladesh, three against England in October and two against West Indies in January next year. The two away Test matches are against South Africa, which will be played in December/January.

The first Test match against Bangladesh marks Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s first international assignment since his appointment in April this year. It will also be Shan Masood’s first Test match as captain on home soil, embarking a new era in red-ball cricket for the team.

The match, broadcasted live on A-Sports, PTV Sports and Ten Sports, will see Shan flipping the coin at 09.30am, with the first ball to be bowled at 10.00am.

To facilitate fans, the tickets are kept at a very nominal pricing and are available online at PCB.tcs.com.pk. Additionally, fans can purchase physical tickets, which is operational from Monday, at the ticket booth located at Aviation Ground, opposite Rescue 1122, Rawal Road.

Shan Masood remarks

“Fans always want the cricket team to do well and win matches for them. We are all excited for the series and the great season ahead. We have a talented group of cricketers who are eager to perform well in the series. Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets and helping the team win matches.

“The series against Bangladesh is very important for us as we prepare for a busy season ahead, and we are determined to perform well. We had some good training sessions leading up to the series, and the coaching staff has worked hard with the players.

“It is an honour and a privilege to lead the side at home. With captaincy comes great responsibility, and I will do my best to take this team forward.”

In a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Shan Masood explained the rationale behind this decision to deploy all-seam attack in the first Test, emphasizing Rawalpindi's unique conditions. "In Rawalpindi, whenever we have played domestic cricket, the conditions have favoured the seamers and the batters. Spin-bowling hasn’t been such a big threat. So, we want to take what we do in domestic cricket forward rather than applying something new, which we don’t normally get in Rawalpindi," Shan stated.

The captain's comments highlight a calculated approach, focusing on exploiting the favorable conditions for fast bowlers at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The pitch in Rawalpindi is known for its assistance to seamers, with spin often playing a minimal role, making this strategic choice logical.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto:

“We are grateful to the PCB for helping us get some practice here in Lahore. We had a couple of sessions there and I am hopeful the players will do well in the series.

“The series against Pakistan is very important and we know that Pakistan has great potential. The series is part of the ICC Championship and we know every game is very important.

“The series between Bangladesh ‘A’ and Shaheens have helped our players to assess the conditions well.”

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto addressed the media in a pre-series press conference, expressing confidence in his team’s preparation and potential to perform well despite the challenges ahead.

When questioned about the potential impact of Shakib Al Hasan’s recent political setbacks on his cricketing performance, Shanto quickly dismissed any concerns. 

Shakib, a seasoned cricketer and former Member of Parliament (MP) for the ruling party, faced a significant blow when the government led by Sheikh Hasina fell, leading to a downturn in his political career. 

However, Shanto expressed full confidence in Shakib's ability to separate his cricket from his political life. "I don't think it will affect him because he's a professional cricketer, and we all treat him as such. He has played this game for so long that he knows his role and how to prepare himself. I am not thinking about his political career, and I hope he will do something special in this series," Shanto said.

Shanto, however, remained optimistic about his team’s balanced bowling unit, which includes both pace and spin options. He emphasised that Bangladesh is well-prepared to adapt to the conditions, with a particular focus on their spinners. "In the last couple of years, we have had a very good fast bowling unit. We also have three or four quality spinners, so we've covered all aspects. Tomorrow, when we come to the ground, we'll assess the wicket and finalize the team. But as you mentioned, the seamers get a bit of an advantage here, and they are really excited to perform well in these conditions," he said.

Reflecting on the significance of the toss and pitch conditions, the Bangladeshi skipper acknowledged that while the toss could play a pivotal role, his team is mentally prepared for any scenario. "The toss is very important. The players are ready for both batting and bowling, but it's crucial. Personally, I am not thinking about the toss because, as players, we have to be ready for every single situation," he said.

Pakistan playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan(wicket-keeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali

Bangladesh squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Hasan Mahmud, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Taijul Islam and Zakir Hasan

Match officials:

Adrian Holdstock and Richard Kettleborough (on-field umpires), Michael Gough (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire) and Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)