Cricket

Pakistan Faces Early Setback in Rain-Delayed Test Against BangladeshPakistan's hopes of a strong start in the first Test against Bangladesh were dashed as they lost three crucial wickets in quick succession after being sent to bat first in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam proved to be the tormentor-in-chief, claiming the prized scalps of Pakistan captain Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam for a duck. Masood's dismissal sparked controversy as he engaged in a heated discussion with the umpires, adamant that he had not edged the ball to the keeper. However, replays confirmed the umpire's decision, leaving Masood visibly upset.Shoriful's delivery, pitched on a back of a length, generated a steep bounce, causing Masood to attempt a defensive push towards mid-off. Bangladeshi players appealed, and the umpire initially ruled in Masood's favor. However, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain opted for a review, which proved successful as the ultra-edge technology revealed a clear deflection.Pakistan's batting woes continued as Azam, the world's top-ranked batter, was dismissed for a duck in the following over. Shoriful again struck, this time with a delivery that swung away from Azam and clipped the outside edge of his bat.The early wickets put Pakistan in a precarious position, with the team's hopes resting on the shoulders of middle-order batters Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their early success and will look to capitalize on Pakistan's fragile batting lineup.The two-match series is part of the nine-team World Test Championship, with Pakistan currently sixth in the standings and Bangladesh eighth. Pakistan opted for an all-pace attack with four fast bowlers, while Bangladesh included three pacers and two spinners.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh: A Test of Character and ResilienceSince their disappointing performance at the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan's cricket team has faced a barrage of criticism. Reports of dressing room conflicts, questionable leadership decisions, and poor on-field results have left fans disillusioned.As Pakistan prepares to face Bangladesh in the first of two Tests starting on Wednesday, the team is determined to turn the tide. This busy season, which includes nine Tests, provides an opportunity for Pakistan to put their recent struggles behind them.Pakistan captain Shan Masood has emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive dressing room environment, believing it can have a significant impact on on-field performances. "The dressing room is a sacred place," Masood said. "It's where we come together as a team, share our thoughts and ideas, and support each other. When the dressing room is healthy, it shows on the field."Pakistan's recent struggles have been well-documented. They lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka, were whitewashed 3-0 in a Test series against England, and suffered a humiliating defeat to Zimbabwe in a T20I match.However, Masood remains optimistic about the team's prospects. "We have a talented group of players," he said. "We just need to find our rhythm and start playing to our potential. I believe we can turn things around."Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their recent success. They defeated India in a Test series last year and drew a Test series against Sri Lanka.The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams eager to prove their worth.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to face off in a two-match Test series, with the first Test scheduled to begin on August 21, 2024, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The series marks Pakistan's resumption of their World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, where they currently sit sixth in the standings.For Pakistan, two wins in this series are crucial to improve their position in the WTC rankings. Star batter Babar Azam, who has been in exceptional form, will bat at number four in the series. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will enter the game after experiencing political turmoil in their country. They currently occupy eighth place in the WTC standings, having won only one match out of four so far.The first Test match will commence at 10:30 AM IST on August 21st. Unfortunately, the match will not be live telecast in India. However, fans can follow the live streaming of the match on the official website of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Pakistan will be eager to start their WTC campaign on a positive note, while Bangladesh will be determined to prove their mettle against a formidable opponent. The series promises to be an exciting contest between two talented teams.

Bangladesh's political turmoil has subsided, with a caretaker government now in charge. However, the unrest has raised concerns about the country's ability to host the Women's T20 World Cup in October.Despite the political upheaval, Bangladesh's men's cricket team is set to embark on a tour of Pakistan, their first fixture in two months. The two Tests form part of the World Test Championship, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is determined to put the political turmoil behind them.One of the key players for Bangladesh is Shakib Al Hasan, whose stint as a member of parliament ended with the government's collapse. However, Shakib has remained focused on his cricket, and Shanto expects him to continue to perform at his best."Shakib bhai is in a good shape - in practice and preparation. He has the desire to do well," Shanto said. "He has showed his commitment in every practice session. He is a professional cricketer. We all treat him as a cricketer. He [has] played this game for so long that he knows his role; he knows how to prepare himself."Bangladesh will also rely on Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is a respectable batter in the lower order. Mehidy is likely to be included in the XI to prevent Bangladesh from having a long tail. Batting him at No. 8 might allow Bangladesh to play three fast bowlers and two spinners, including both Shakib and Mehidy.Shanto hinted that one of those quicks could be Nahid Rana, considered Bangladesh's fastest bowler with speeds up to 150kph."There's a chance of him playing. He is in good shape," Shanto said. "We will have our normal combination, it seems. Pacers will have an extra advantage on this wicket, so we will look at that when thinking about our XI. [Shadman Islam] is batting very well. He is preparing well. He made runs [recently against Pakistan A] in Australia."Bangladesh are in dire need of a batting revival. The understanding that Rawalpindi could be a favourable pitch for batters is giving them encouragement. Shanto said that they have done enough preparation to get better, which also includes his own form, as both Shanto and Litton Das have been in the headlines after playing poorly in the T20 World Cup a few months back."We are not looking to do anything extra, but it is true that we haven't been batting well in the last few months," he said. "We didn't go well in our last Test series [against Sri Lanka, in March-April]. Having said that, I think we are well prepared for this Test series. The players have used the opportunities to prepare properly. They believe that we can do better with the bat.""I have always looked to develop my skills as a batter. Every practice session has been about improving in those areas where I lack. I am hopeful that it will help me in the matches [against Pakistan]."Shanto remained positive that Bangladesh have enough reason to be confident for the series opener in Rawalpindi, especially with their fast-bowling unit."Records can change. It won't be easy [for Pakistan]," he said. "We have a balanced side. We believe we can do special things this time. We are excited to play here. We have developed a good pace-bowling unit, we have four quality spinners, [and] we covered all the bases that will help us make the team tomorrow. The seamers get a bit of benefit here, so they are excited to do well in this condition."

Bangladesh's historic Test debut against India in 2000 marked a significant milestone in the development of cricket in the South Asian nation. The journey to Test status began with Bangladesh's triumph in the 1997 ICC Trophy, which earned them a berth in the 1999 ODI World Cup. Their stunning victory over Pakistan in the tournament showcased their growing talent and potential.Bangladesh's domestic cricket infrastructure, including first-class cricket, played a crucial role in nurturing their players. Support from Test-playing nations like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka further aided their progress. The International Cricket Council (ICC), recognizing the potential for cricket's growth in Bangladesh, granted them full Test status in 2000.India hosted Bangladesh's maiden Test match in Dhaka, with Sourav Ganguly leading the Indian team as captain. Bangladesh opener Aminul Islam became the country's first Test centurion, helping them post a respectable 400 in the first innings. India responded with 429, led by Ganguly's 84 and Sunil Joshi's 92.Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman impressed with six wickets in India's first innings. However, India's bowlers dominated the second innings, dismissing Bangladesh for a mere 91. India chased down the target of 63 with ease, securing a victory by nine wickets.Since their debut, India and Bangladesh have played 13 Test matches, with India emerging victorious in 11 and two ending in draws. Bangladesh has yet to register a Test win against India. In 2019, the two teams played their first Day/Night Test match in Kolkata.Bangladesh's Test debut against India was a testament to the country's growing cricketing prowess and the ICC's commitment to expanding the reach of the sport. It marked a new chapter in the history of cricket in South Asia and continues to inspire aspiring cricketers in Bangladesh and beyond.

Pakistan Announces Playing XI for First Test Against BangladeshThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled its playing eleven for the first Test match against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This two-match Test series marks the debut of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach.Pakistan's pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali. Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha will provide spin support.Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open the batting for Pakistan, followed by captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam in the middle order. Mohammad Rizwan will don the wicketkeeping gloves.Aamir Jamal has been released from the squad due to ongoing fitness issues. The 28-year-old fast bowler suffered a back injury while playing County cricket in England earlier this year and has been sent to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for rehabilitation.

Bangladesh's head coach Chandika Hathurusingha remains committed to fulfilling his contract with the national cricket team despite the recent political turmoil in the country. Amidst the possibility of a major shakeup in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Hathurusingha expressed his willingness to continue in his role."I have signed a contract till whatever the date and I'm looking forward to serve that term," Hathurusingha stated. "If the board (is) changed and the new people want to make a change, I'm OK with that. (If) they want me to continue, if they're happy with me, I'm happy with that."Hathurusingha's focus remains on preparing his team for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting Wednesday in Rawalpindi. The former Sri Lankan international was appointed as Bangladesh's all-format coach in early 2023 on a two-year contract. This is Hathurusingha's second stint as Bangladesh coach, having previously served from 2014-17 before leaving to coach Sri Lanka.The political unrest in Bangladesh disrupted the team's preparations back home, prompting them to seek additional training in Lahore upon their arrival in Pakistan. Six Bangladesh Test players, who came with the country's "A" team, also participated in a four-day practice game against Pakistan Shaheens in Islamabad.The Bangladesh Test squad includes star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was a lawmaker in ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. However, Shakib was playing in Canada at the time of her resignation earlier this month.Pakistan has named a strong bowling attack for the first Test, including pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali. The selectors have released leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and uncapped batter Kamran Ghulam.Hathurusingha expressed his condolences for the families who lost loved ones in the political turmoil. He emphasized that his "thoughts and prayers are with them."

Bangladesh's preparations for their two-Test series in Pakistan have been severely disrupted by political turmoil in their home country. The unrest, which led to the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has kept the team's foreign coaches indoors and prevented them from assembling for practice sessions.The make-up of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also up in the air, after president Nazmul Hassan fled the country due to his association with Hasina. Despite the challenges, the interim government has allowed ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina's party, to feature in the Pakistan series."Because of the situation, it was not possible to practice," said spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.The tourists have received some reprieve after the Pakistan Cricket Board invited them to arrive four days early to make up for their lack of preparations. A second-string Bangladesh team, with six players included from the national team, has already been playing practice games in Islamabad since August 10.To add to Bangladesh's problems, in-form opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been ruled out of the first Test with a groin strain, but senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim is expected to recover in time from a finger injury.Bangladesh will be hoping to overturn their no-win record against Pakistan, having lost 12 of the 13 Tests, with just one draw. The two-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship's third cycle, with Pakistan sixth in the current nine-team table and Bangladesh eighth.The second Test, both matches moved to Rawalpindi because of construction work at Karachi stadium, will be played from August 30.Following a 3-0 rout in Australia earlier this year, Pakistan brought in former Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie as Test coach, while Adelaide groundsman Damien Hough was hired to improve the standard of pitches.Having released their only spinner, Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan will enter the Test with an all-pace attack, a ploy they last used five years ago against Sri Lanka at the same venue.Bangladesh, however, will rely on spin with Shakib (237 wickets), Taijul Islam (195), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (164) all included.Pakistan captain Shan Masood refused to accept that the Bangladesh team is under-prepared."You expect all international Test sides to come into a series well prepared and trying to play their best cricket," he told AFP."Bangladesh is a side that has quality players in all departments and we highly respect the challenges they bring as a side to us."Masood also hopes Pakistan will show improvement under the new coach."We are excited to see how they (coaches) help us to be better people, better cricketers and, most importantly, be among the top teams in the world."

Pakistan's decision to exclude leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and uncapped batter Kamran Ghulam from their 17-man squad for the first Test against Bangladesh has drawn criticism from former cricketer Basit Ali. Ali believes that the selectors should have included a genuine spinner in the squad, especially considering the predicted rain during the match.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad on Saturday, opting for an all-out pace attack with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the charge. Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shehzad, and Mir Hamza will provide support. However, Ali argues that the management has failed to consider the conditions and should have included a specialist spinner."A genuine spinner should have been in the squad," Ali said. "The management has failed to read the conditions. Rain is predicted, and a spinner would have been crucial."Abrar and Kamran have been released to play for Pakistan Shaheens in a four-day game against Bangladesh 'A' starting Tuesday. The PCB stated that Abrar needs match practice ahead of the second Test, which begins on August 30. Both players will rejoin the Test squad before the second match.Pakistan last played a Test with an all-pace attack in 2019 against Sri Lanka. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha is now the only spin option available for the first Test. Agha has been consistent in Test matches since 2023, claiming crucial wickets for Pakistan.The decision to drop Abrar and Kamran has raised questions about Pakistan's strategy for the series. With rain expected, the inclusion of a spinner could have provided a significant advantage. However, the selectors have opted for an aggressive approach, relying on their pace attack to dominate Bangladesh.