The much-anticipated Pakistan and Bangladesh second cricket test match faced a significant delay on Friday due to heavy rain in Rawalpindi. The downpour not only postponed the toss but also raised fears of a possible washout of the opening day.
Both teams remained in their hotel rooms as the rain showed no signs of stopping. The umpires announced that they would inspect the ground only after the rain ceased. However, with the meteorological office predicting intermittent monsoon showers, the situation looked bleak.
This delay is particularly worrying for Pakistan. The team is under immense pressure to win this Test after suffering a humiliating defeat in the first match, also held in Rawalpindi, last Sunday. Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test victory against Pakistan, winning by 10 wickets. This win ended a 14-Test winless streak for Bangladesh against Pakistan, making the second Test even more crucial for the hosts.
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Adding to Pakistan’s woes, their pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been left out of the 12-member squad. Afridi, who recently became a father, has been given time off to be with his newborn son. Shan Masood will lead the team, which features an all-pace bowling attack.
In the first Test, Masood’s side suffered a stunning loss on the final day, leaving them with no choice but to win the second Test to square the two-match series. The pressure is on, and the weather is not helping.
On the other hand, Bangladesh is looking to make history by clinching their first Test series victory over Pakistan. The team’s confidence is high after their dominant performance in the first Test.
Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, emphasized the need for a ruthless approach in the final Test. He admitted that Pakistan’s bowlers underperformed in the first match, especially in maintaining a good over rate.
“Our over rates were very poor in the first Test, and that is unacceptable,” Gillespie said. “The bowlers will approach this match with a renewed focus. We need to be ruthless with discipline and maintain a consistent line and length. Our goal is to keep challenging the opposition’s defense, ball after ball.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, expressed optimism about his team’s chances in the second Test. He acknowledged the difficulty of beating Pakistan on their home turf but remained confident in his players’ abilities.
“Beating Pakistan in Pakistan is not easy, but our morale is very high,” Hathurusinghe said. Despite their emphatic victory in the first Test, he admitted that the second match would be a significant challenge for his team.
The Pakistan squad for the second Test includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha.
As fans wait for the rain to subside, both teams remain focused on the task ahead, knowing that the outcome of this Test could define their cricketing year.
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