The much-anticipated first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh kicked off today in Rawalpindi, albeit more than four hours behind schedule, due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. However, once the match got underway, it was clear that Bangladesh had seized the upper hand right from the start. The visitors had an excellent start with the new ball, taking advantage of the conditions and riding some early luck, leaving Pakistan in a precarious situation.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Shoriful Islam, quickly made inroads into the Pakistani batting lineup, securing three quick wickets in less than nine overs. The scalp that probably hurt Pakistan the most was that of Babar Azam, who was dismissed for a second-ball duck, an unusual and disappointing outcome for the Pakistani batting ace. This early strike left Pakistan reeling and significantly boosted Bangladesh’s morale.
However, it was the dismissal of Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood in the seventh over that became the talk of the day, sparking quite a bit of controversy. Masood was caught on the wrong end of a decision by third umpire Michael Gough. Facing Shoriful Islam, Masood attempted to play a back-of-a-length delivery that sharply jagged back towards him. He tried to guide the ball to the mid-off but missed, with the ball passing through the gap between his bat and pad.
Bangladesh’s players immediately appealed for a caught behind, but the on-field umpire, Adrian Holdstock, remained unconvinced and did not raise his finger. The visiting team’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, decided to use a review, and the drama unfolded. The replays showed the ball passing very close to the bat, and the snickometer registered a faint noise. However, the split-screen view appeared to indicate that the ball had struck the pad after passing the bat, suggesting there might not have been any contact with the bat.
Despite this, third umpire Michael Gough concluded that there was enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision, and Masood was adjudged out. Pakistan’s captain was visibly upset and engaged in a heated discussion with the umpire before reluctantly making his way back to the pavilion.
. The decision was deemed controversial and raised questions about the reliability and interpretation of the available technology.
To compound Pakistan’s problems, the dismissal of their captain was quickly followed by Babar Azam’s, who recorded his first-ever duck in Test matches on home soil. With Pakistan struggling at 16/3, the early part of the match was overwhelmingly in favor of Bangladesh, much to their delight.
The pressing challenge for Pakistan now is to recover from these early setbacks and put up a competitive total on the board. Their batting lineup, featuring names like Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Saud Shakeel, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, is capable of stabilizing the inning. They also have depth with all-rounders like Agha Salman and a bowling unit led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
The playing XIs for both teams were announced as follows:
Pakistan – Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.
Bangladesh – Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.
As the match progresses, all eyes will be on how Pakistan’s remaining batsmen handle the mounting pressure from Bangladesh’s bowlers. The outcome of this first Test could set the tone for the entire series, and with both sides looking to establish dominance early, cricket fans are in for an intriguing contest.
Further narratives to watch include:
– The ongoing battle for the top spot in the ICC Test rankings where Babar Azam and Joe Root are striving for supremacy.
– The immediate impact of Babar Azam’s unusual and unexpected early dismissal against Bangladesh, notably his first duck in Tests at home.
– The symbolic gestures in other matches, such as England and Sri Lanka players wearing black armbands, which could be tied to significant events or tributes.
The opening exchanges of this Test match have already provided plenty of drama and talking points. Now, the onus is on Pakistan to fight back and demonstrate the resilience that has characterized many of their historic performances. Whether they can do so successfully remains to be seen as the Rawalpindi Test unfolds.
