The opening day of the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was called off due to persistent rain and a wet outfield. The adverse weather conditions, which have included intermittent monsoon showers, have disrupted what was expected to be a crucial match for both teams.
Heavy rains in the morning led to a delay in the scheduled toss, and despite a brief cessation of rain, the conditions did not improve enough to allow play to commence. The Met Office has forecasted intermittent monsoon rain, which continues to affect the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The rain has left much of the stadium marshy, further complicating the possibility of play on the first day. With the pitch covered, the major concern remains the condition of the outfield, which needs to dry out before any cricketing activities can resume.
This delay is a troubling sign for the Pakistan team, who are eager to level the two-match series after Bangladesh’s dominant performance in the first Test. The first Test, also held in Rawalpindi, saw Bangladesh secure a historic 10-wicket victory, marking their first-ever win over Pakistan in 14 Tests. The win has given Bangladesh a significant boost as they seek their first Test-series victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan’s preparations for this crucial game have been affected by team changes and injuries. Notably, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of the squad for this Test. Afridi, who has been struggling with his rhythm, is taking time off to be with his newly born son. Pakistan’s head coach, Jason Gillespie, stated that Afridi’s absence is part of a strategic decision to allow him to spend time with his family and to better plan the team’s combination for the game. “Obviously Shaheen will miss out on this game. We had a good conversation with him and he fully understands and appreciates the thinking behind it. We are just looking at what our best combination is for this game,” Gillespie said.
Pakistan’s recent performances have been under scrutiny. They were knocked out early in the T20 World Cup earlier this year and suffered a whitewash in their last Test series in Australia. These struggles have put additional pressure on the team to deliver strong performances in this series.
The Pakistan squad for the second Test includes Shan Masood as captain, with Saud Shakeel as vice-captain, and Mohammad Rizwan as wicketkeeper. The squad also features Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shehzad. In the series opener, Pakistan utilized a pace-heavy attack, including Shaheen, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Naseem Shah. However, their strategy did not yield the desired results, and they will need to reassess their approach given the current circumstances.
The weather has added an extra layer of uncertainty to the match, as both teams will now have to wait for the conditions to improve. The hope is that play can resume on the second day, with the pitch and outfield conditions allowing for a fair contest. As the weather continues to play a pivotal role, the delay serves as a reminder of how external factors can impact the outcomes and dynamics of international cricket matches.
