Pakistan‘s Babar Azam has set an unfavorable record with a duck in his first home Test match against Bangladesh after having gone down on just the second ball he faced. He had already scored seven ducks in Tests but this is the first time since 2021 that he got out without scoring (0) from Zimbabwe at Harare.
For Pakistan, it was an unnecessary disaster given that they had lost two wickets before Babar. Shoriful Islam threw the delivery which was swinging towards leg-side but Babar went for it; this made contact with inner edge and Litan Das took an incredible catch to end up with his wicket captured by him.
You can watch the video here:
Babar Azam 0(2) vs Bangladesh
Ball by Ball pic.twitter.com/lMVs7qO3D1— Naeem (@Naeemception) August 21, 2024
This was his 8th Test duck and his first since 2021
Before, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had lost the toss and chose to field in the first test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday after nearly two sessions were lost because of a wet outfield.
The umpires Richard Kettleborough and Adrian Holdstock held four inspections as heavy rainfall in the early morning resulted in some residual water on patches which took more than five hours to dry completely.
Pakistan has picked an all-pace bowling attack that includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Ahmed and Mohammad Ali; they are hoping that this green-top wicket may support their fast bowlers.
Choosing to play as its sole spinner is Salman Ali Agha who bowls off spin bowling; his inclusion was made possible only after Abrar Ahmed (the specialist leg spinner) was sent back from squad selection for this match. Another chance was given to aggressive opening batter Saim Ayub by Pakistan, who went without uncapped Mohammad Hurraira, who has scored a lot in the domestic season.
Mushfiqur Rahim, an experienced batter from Bangladesh, is returning to red ball cricket after 10 months but the visitors prefer to go with three fast bowlers – Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana. Two spin options are all-rounders Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Bangladesh had to include Shadman Islam after opening batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy was ruled out of the opener due to a groin injury sustained during Bangladesh A’s four-day game against Pakistan Shaheens in Islamabad.
The test matches played in this series belong to ICC World Test Championship where Pakistan occupies position six and Bangladesh comes at 8 with the only exception of West Indies who sit at the bottom.
Following construction works at National Bank Stadium before next year’s Champions Trophy, Rawalpindi will also host the second test match starting August 30, after Pakistan Cricket Board decided to shift it there.
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