ISLAMABAD: On a pitch initially expected to favor fast bowlers, it was Pakistan’s batsmen who excelled. On the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan both scored impressive centuries, leading Pakistan to 448-6 before captain Shan Masood declared the innings on Thursday.
By the end of the second day, Bangladesh had reached 27 without loss. The visitors face a substantial challenge to turn the match in their favor.
Pakistan resumed the day at 158-4 with Saud and Rizwan on 57 and 24, respectively. Saud, who became the top run-scorer for Pakistan in 20 innings on the first day, finished with 141 off 261 balls, including nine fours. Rizwan scored 171 off 239 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes, and remained unbeaten.
The partnership between Saud and Rizwan yielded 250 runs, marking one of Pakistan’s highest-ever stands for the fifth wicket.
Saud emphasized the importance of partnerships in both batting and bowling. “When playing, if one partner is in form, you might sometimes slow down if the other side is aggressive,” he said. “We adapt based on the game situation.”
Rizwan was dropped by wicketkeeper Litton Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when he was on 89. He capitalized on the chance, hitting a six and a four off Shakib Al Hasan to bring up his third Test century in just 143 balls.
Saud reached his third Test ton in 11 matches, taking 195 balls, and displayed excellent control over spin bowling before being stumped by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The pitch, which had provided movement and bounce initially, had turned into a batting paradise by the time Bangladesh began their innings. Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan looked comfortable against Pakistan’s pace attack, while fast-bowler Khurram Shahzad showed some threat before stumps.
Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp expressed hope that the pitch would continue to support batting and emphasized the need for his batters to match Pakistan’s performance.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings):
Abdullah Shafique c Zakir b Hasan 2
Saim Ayub c Mehidy b Hasan 56
Shan Masood c Litton b Shoriful 6
Babar Azam c Litton b Shoriful 0
Saud Shakeel st Litton b Mehidy 141
Mohammad Rizwan not out 171
Salman Ali Agha c Mehidy b Shakib 19
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 29
EXTRAS (B-12, LB-4, NB-7, W-1): 24
TOTAL (for six wkts decl, 113 overs): 448
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3 (Abdullah), 2-14 (Shan), 3-16 (Babar), 4-114 (Saim), 5-354 (Saud), 6-398 (Salman)
DID NOT BAT: Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali
BOWLING:
Shoriful 23-4-77-2
Hasan 23-4-70-2
Nahid 19-0-105-0 (3nb)
Mehidy 21-1-80-1
Shakib 27-3-100-1 (1w, 4nb)
BANGLADESH (1st Innings):
Shadman Islam not out 12
Zakir Hasan not out 11
EXTRAS (LB-4): 4
TOTAL (for no loss, 12 overs): 27
STILL TO BAT: Najmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana
BOWLING:
Shaheen 4-1-8-0
Naseem 5-1-7-0
Khurram 3-0-8-0
