Pakistan Team Declares at 448-6 in first Test, powered by stellar centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel on the second day of the opening match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Rizwan achieved a career-best 171 not out, hitting three sixes and 11 boundaries, while Shakeel contributed 141, as Pakistan rebounded from a shaky start.
Resuming the day at 158-4, Pakistan’s fifth-wicket stand between Rizwan and Saud Shakeel produced a crucial 240-run partnership, rescuing the team from an early collapse where they lost three wickets for just 16 runs on the first day. This partnership marked the third Test century for both Rizwan and Saud Shakeel.
Saud Shakeel’s innings of 141 off 261 balls included nine boundaries before he was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Rizwan, continuing his dominance, remained unbeaten on 171 from 239 balls, registering his first 150+ score in international cricket. Shaheen Afridi added a rapid 29 not out from 24 balls, featuring two sixes and a boundary.
For Bangladesh, pacers Hasan Mahmud (2-70) and Shoriful Islam (2-77) were the standout bowlers. The second and final Test of the series is also scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, starting on August 30, 2024.
On the first day, after opting to bat, Pakistan struggled against Bangladesh’s pace attack, losing Abdullah Shafique (2), Shan Masood (6), and Babar Azam (0) within the first 10 overs. However, a crucial 98-run partnership between Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel steadied the innings, with Saim scoring his maiden Test fifty, making 56 off 98 balls.
The Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, where both Pakistan and Bangladesh aim to strengthen their standings on the points table. Historically, Pakistan has dominated, winning 12 out of 13 Test matches against Bangladesh, with one match ending in a draw.
