Summary:

Bangladesh wins the toss and elects to bowl first in the Rawalpindi Test.
Rain causes significant delay, reducing the number of overs on the first day.
Pakistan’s all-pace attack will face Bangladesh in the first of two Test matches.

The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh, held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, was delayed for several hours due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first, setting the stage for an exciting opening day. The match, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) third cycle, will see a total of 48 overs being bowled today, with play resuming after a tea break at 4:40 p.m. and potentially extending until 6:30 p.m. to complete the overs.

Pakistan, led by Shan Masood, has decided to use an all-pace attack for this Test, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali. The Test is significant for both teams as Pakistan is currently ranked sixth and Bangladesh eighth in the Test rankings, making this a crucial fixture for improving their positions in the WTC points table.

Historically, Pakistan has dominated their encounters with Bangladesh, winning 12 out of the 13 matches played between the two teams across six Test series, with one match ending in a draw. The second Test of this series will also be played at Rawalpindi starting August 30, after being relocated from Karachi due to ongoing construction at the Karachi stadium.

Both teams are keenly focused on this series, aiming to make their mark in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.