Bangladesh have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan. Before the first Test match to be played in Rawalpindi, the toss was delayed due to the wet outfield, but now, considering the situation at the umpire’s ground, it has been decided to do the toss at 2 pm local time, while the game starts at 2:30.
The first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh has been delayed as the outfield in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium remained wet after a spell of rain. The ground is being dried before being inspected again at 11:30 a.m.
Earlier, both the teams arrived at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with tight security provided on the highway while the teams left their hotels.
During the teams’ movement, the Metro bus service was also completely suspended on the Rawalpindi to IJP Rawalpindi section.
The first test match against Bangladesh is Pakistan Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s first international assignment since his April appointment. It will also be Shaun Masood’s first Test match on home soil as captain. A new era will begin in red ball cricket.
Pakistan Playing XI
Abdullah Shafiq. Saim Ayub Shan Masood (Captain) Babar Azam. Saud Shakeel (Vice Captain), Muhammad Rizwan (Wicket Keeper), Salman Ali Agha. Shaheen Shah Afridi Naseem Shah Khurram Shahzad, and Muhammad Ali.
BangladeshPlaying XI
Najamul Hasan Shanto (captain), Hasan Mahmood, Laton Das, Mehdi Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqul Rahim, Naheed Rana, Naeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shakibul Hasan, Shariful Islam, Syed Khalid Ahmed, Taijoul Islam and Zakir Hasan.
Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team defeats Bangladesh by five runs in a thriller in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 cricket World Cup.
Pakistan team returned to the pavilion by scoring only 155 runs in 40.4 overs. Shahzaib Khan scored 26 runs, Arfat Minhas 34 while Shamyl Husain and Ali Asfand scored 19 runs each.
Chasing the target of 155 runs, the Bangladesh team bowled out for 150 runs in 35.5 overs. From Pakistan’s side, Ubiad Shah dismissed 5 players, Ali Raza took three wickets while Muhammad Zeshan took one but final wicket.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said Tuesday that he still clings onto hope that his team can squeeze into the World Cup semi-finals despite the odds stacked against them.
“Yes. We are trying to win our next two matches and let’s see where we stand,” said Azam after a seven-wicket romp over Bangladesh gave them a third win in seven matches.
“We will take a lot of confidence into those matches.”
Pakistan have six points and sit in fifth place in the 10-nation table.
Australia, in fourth place, have eight points and a game in hand while third-placed New Zealand are third, also on eight points, having also played one game fewer.
Pakistan face the Kiwis on Saturday in Bengaluru before finishing their group campaign against defending champions England in Kolkata on November 11.
As well as two wins, the 1992 champions will need other results go their way if they are to stay in the tournament.
On Tuesday, Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets while openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique made 81 and 68 respectively as Pakistan chased down a 205-run target for the loss of three wickets with 105 balls to spare.
“We know when Fakhar plays the way he can for 20-30 overs it is a different ball game. So we let him play his natural game and it is good to see,” said Azam of Zaman, the only Pakistan batsman to have scored a double century in one-day international cricket.
Azam added: “We started well. Shaheen took early wickets. The main thing is we stuck to our length in the middle overs and we took wickets.”
Fakhar, a 33-year-old left-hander, was playing only his second match of the tournament after being sidelined with a knee injury.
“We were anxiously waiting for this win,” said Zaman.
“Every win in the World Cup boosts the confidence and our aim is to win the remaining two matches. Our target is semi-final.”
Zaman admitted the defeat to India earlier in the tournament had been a bodyblow but the team had gained new confidence by pushing South Africa all the way.
Pakistan fought hard against the Proteas only to lose by a narrow one-wicket margin in Chennai on Friday.
“That loss to India made the difference, every match against India does but we fought well in the South Africa match and that fight gave us much-needed rhythm,” said Zaman.
Zaman also said the impact of his injury was not as severe as first feared.
“I was batting well in the nets and had the team needed me before I would have played but my aim is to always score runs that help the team win.”
Bounce Back
Bangladesh became the first team to be eliminated after six losses in seven games.
“At this moment we have to perform together in all three departments. It’s not any individual that can win us games,” said captain Shakib Al Hasan.
His team still have two games to play in the round-robin stage against Sri Lanka in New Delhi on November 6 and against Australia in Pune five days later.
“We need collective performances. Two more matches hopefully we can bounce back,” said Shakib, playing in his fourth World Cup.
“The fans supported us and are behind us whether we are doing well or not. We have to give something back to them so they can smile.”
In the 31st match of the ICC ODI World Cup, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh easily by seven wickets and entered the race to reach the semi-finals.
In the match played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first. Opener Tanzid Hasan was promptly dismissed by Shaheen Afraid for zero in the first over, later Najamul Hussain Shanto was also dismissed by Shaheen after scoring only four runs.
Haris Rauf sent Mushfiqur Rahim back to the pavilion, while Iftikhar Ahmed guided Latin Das to the pavilion after he scored 45 runs. Mahmudullah, who scored 56 runs for Bangladesh, was also dismissed by Shaheen. Captain Shakib Al Hasan scored 43, Tawheed seven, Mehidi Hasan 25, Taskin Ahmed six, and Mustafizur Rahman three. The entire Bangladesh team was bowled out for 204 runs in 45.1 overs.
On behalf of Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim took three wickets each, while Haris Rauf took two wickets, and Iftikhar Ahmed and Usama Mir took one wicket each.
Chasing Bangladesh’s target of 205 runs, Pakistan got off to a good start, with openers Abdullah Shafiq and Fakhar Zaman putting on a brilliant 128-run partnership. However, Abdullah then got out after scoring 68 runs off 69 balls. Fakhar Zaman got out with after putting up a brilliant 81 runs off 74 balls, his innings included 7 sixes and 3 fours.
Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten by scoring 26 runs and 17 runs on behalf of Pakistan, the green shirts easily achieving the required target in 32.3 overs.
Bangladesh’s Mehdi Hasan dismissed three players. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman was named player of the match for his brilliant batting.
Cricket World Cup standings after Tuesday’s match (played, won, lost, tied, no result, points, net run rate):
Pakistan cricket team will play its seventh match today against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup. After a string of losses, there is a possibility of three changes in Pakistan’s playing XI.
According to sources, Fakhar Zaman will return in the match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Zaman was suffering from a knee injury, but is likely to be included in the team instead of Imamul Haq. Salman Ali Agha will be fielded instead of all-rounder Muhammad Nawaz, who has scored only 81 runs in 5 matches and has taken only two wickets. If Salman Ali Agha is fielded, it will be his first World Cup match.
Vice-captain Shadab Khan, who suffered a concussion in the previous match, may be rested for the match against Bangladesh. The team management is considering giving him full rest this week, while Usama Mir can be a part of the final XI in his place. Usama Mir replaced Shadab in the match against South Africa.
