Pakistan captain Shan Masood is furious after being knocked out against Bangladesh.©Twitter
Bangladesh left-handed paceman Shoriful Islam took two wickets in four balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 81-3 on a rainy opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The 23-year-old spearhead removed home captain Shan Masood for six and then star batter Babar Azam for a two-ball duck before Pakistan began their recovery on a green pitch. Saim Ayub was unbeaten on 42 and Saud Shakeel on 28 at the break after they had added a fighting 65 in their fourth-wicket stand.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took no time in sending Pakistan into bat after winning the toss and caught Pakistan napping at 16-3. It was Shoriful's new-ball partner Hasan Mahmud who gave the visitors the first breakthrough when Abdullah Shafique was smartly caught at gully by Zakir Hasan for two in the fourth over.
Shoriful then made sure Masood was caught behind the ball after a sharp delivery as Bangladesh successfully checked a 'not out' decision by South African referee Adrian Holdstock.
Masood discussed England TV referee Martin Gough's decision with the on-field officials, while the Bangladesh outfield players celebrated the sending-off and refused to accept that he had stolen the ball.
Out or not out
Shan Masood is rejected by Shoriful Islam.#PAKvBAN | #TestOpHai photo.twitter.com/8OgkgQKHPa
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 21, 2024
Babar scored a leg-side ball in Shoriful's next over and was caught by wicketkeeper Liton Das. This was his first home-ground duck in 14 Tests.
Play was not resumed before lunch, resulting in 230 minutes being lost as a number of wet patches on the outfield, caused by the previous night's rainfall, were deemed dangerous.
Pakistan started the Test with four fast bowlers in an all-pace attack without a frontline spinner, while Bangladesh had three pacers and two spinners.
The two-match series is part of the nine-team World Test Championship, with Pakistan currently sixth in the table and Bangladesh eighth.
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