RAWALPINDI,AUG 21 (DNA): The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is facing a delay after the toss was put off temporarily due to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium’s wet outfield after last night’s rain.
Umpires Richard Kettleborough of England and Adrian Holdstock from South Africa will inspect the ground again at 1pm.
The match, the first of two, is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) third cycle (2023-2025) contested by nine teams and will see the Shan Masood-led side take on hosts captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto.
With Pakistan currently ranked sixth and Bangladesh on the eighth position in the Test rankings, both teams are eager to perform and strengthen their position on the WTC points table.
Both teams have so far locked horns in 13 matches in six Test series with the Green Shirts emerging winners in 12 of them as one ended in a draw.
It is to be noted that The second Test will also be played in Rawalpindi, from August 30, after being moved from Karachi because of construction work at the stadium.
Squads
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed (not in first Test), Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam (not in first Test), Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan. Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.
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