LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, revealed the Playing XI for the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on August 21.
In Shan Masood’s first home Test as Pakistan captain, the national men’s team will go with an all-pace attack which features ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad and Mohammad Ali.
The batting lineup comprises of young openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, followed by the skipper and star batter Babar Azam.
Newly-appointed vice-captain Saud Shakeel further bolsters the team’s middle order which also features wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha.
The series opener marks only the second instance when Pakistan will field an all-pace attack in a home Test in 28 years.
The last time Pakistan went with an all-pace attack was at the same venue in 2019 against Sri Lanka.
The two-match series part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) will run from August 21 to September 4 with both matches to be played at the same venue.
The second match of the series, however, was originally scheduled to take place at National Stadium, Karachi.
But, owing to the renovation work currently underway at the venue, the PCB, in consultation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to shift the match to Rawalpindi.
“Due to the deployment of heavy construction equipment and the need to adhere to tight redevelopment schedules for the National Bank Stadium, which is being prepared for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has decided to move the second ICC World Test Championship fixture to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” the PCB stated in a press release.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for the first Bangladesh Test: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali.
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