Pakistan Takes Control in First Test Against Bangladesh

Pakistan‘s cricket team established dominance in the first Test match against Bangladesh, played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, by declaring their first innings at 448 runs for six wickets. This declaration occurred on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan led the scoring with a remarkable unbeaten 171 runs off 239 balls. Vice-captain Saud Shakeel supported him well with a solid 141 runs off 261 balls. Their partnership proved crucial as they combined for a fifth-wicket stand of 240 runs, taking Pakistan from a precarious position of 114 for four to 354 for five.

Bangladesh’s response to Pakistan’s declaration began cautiously, with openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan remaining unbeaten at 12 and 11 runs, respectively, at the end of the day’s play. The visitors ended the day at 27 runs without loss after 12 overs, still trailing by 421 runs.

Both Rizwan and Shakeel showcased their batting skills on a pitch that had become increasingly favorable for batting under the midday sun. Their efforts helped Pakistan recover from an initial slump where they found themselves at 16 for three on the first day.

In the second session, Bangladesh managed to take a wicket when Shakeel was stumped by wicketkeeper Litton Das off the bowling of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Shakeel’s contribution included nine boundaries, as he displayed remarkable resilience throughout his innings.

Despite some pressure from Bangladesh’s bowlers, Rizwan and Shakeel maintained control, as the pace bowlers struggled to extract movement from the wicket. The Bangladeshi bowlers, including Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana, faced challenges in breaking through Pakistan’s batting lineup.

After declaring their innings, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi made a quick contribution of 29 runs off 24 balls, which added to the strong position of the team before the declaration was made.

Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp acknowledged the need for their batters to adopt a more positive mindset to match Pakistan’s aggressive approach. The atmosphere in Rawalpindi remains tense as both teams prepare for the continuation of the Test series.