Pakistan is set to take the field against Bangladesh in the first match of a two-Test series, which begins tomorrow, Wednesday. The first match will be held in Rawalpindi from August 21. Ahead of the match, Pakistan has announced its playing XI.
Notably, there is no specialist spinner in this lineup. Four fast bowlers have been included in the squad. For the second time in 28 years, Pakistan will play a home Test match relying solely on a pace attack without a specialist spinner.
Pakistan to Field 4 Fast Bowlers
Abdullah Shafique will open the innings for Pakistan in the first Test match alongside Saim Ayub. Captain Shan Masood will bat at number three, while Babar Azam will be seen at number four. Saud Shakeel will be positioned at number five in the batting order, with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan coming in at number six.
Salman Ali Agha will bat at number seven. The four fast bowlers in the squad are Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali. Salman Ali Agha, who is also in the team as an all-rounder, will take on the responsibility of spinning as a right-arm off-spinner in this match. However, there is no pure spinner in this playing XI.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for the First Test:
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (Captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali.
The second Test match was initially scheduled to be held in Karachi. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that, like the first match, the second Test will also be held in Rawalpindi. To attract spectators, ticket prices have been kept relatively low.
The Pakistan Cricket Board believes that there is significant demand for this match among spectators. Recently, there has been an Islamic student movement in Bangladesh, where the movement’s activists effectively overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The impact of this has also been felt in Pakistan. As a result, Bangladesh is expected to have strong support from fans in Rawalpindi. Consequently, the PCB anticipates a good turnout of spectators, leading to substantial revenue.
