Pakistan’s left-handed batters Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub smashed half-centuries on Day 01 of the first test between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The day’s play was affected by rain, but the duo managed to rescue the side to post a total of 158 runs for four wickets at Stumps.
Pakistan struggled with early dismissals, having lost three wickets for 16 runs. Shafique, Shan Masood, and Babar Azam lost their wickets. Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel posted half-centuries helping the side to recover from the dismissals.
Saud Shakeel’s fighting knock stabilised Pakistan’s innings after they lost Saim Ayub earlier in the third session.#WTC25 | #PAKvBAN 📝: https://t.co/zcjSpGS5rr pic.twitter.com/875y1T4VkT
— ICC (@ICC) August 21, 2024
Shakeel was unbeaten with 57 runs while the debutant Ayub scored 56 for his maiden fifty when they built a stand of 98 runs for the fourth wicket. Shakeel has amassed his 1000 test runs in the 11th test when he reached 33 runs. He further added 44 runs for the fifth wickets alongside Mohammad Rizwan who remained unbeaten for 24 runs.
Shakeel marked his seventh half-century in the format. Meanwhile, Ayub’s innings came to an end in the second session of the day where he hit four boundaries and six before falling victim to Hasan Mahmud’s bowling.
Shoriful Islam and Mahmud picked two wickets each. Shoriful dismissed Shan Masood for six and Babar Azam on a duck. Pakistan has approached the test will full strength pace attack featuring four fast bowlers and no spinner. Meanwhile, Bangladesh fielded three pacers and two spinners.
The two-match test series will be part of the WTC cycle where Pakistan secured sixth position while Bangladesh secured 8th position in the WTC points table.
“We tried to bowl in the right areas and got early success,” Mahmud said. “We will come up with a plan to get early wickets on this pitch tomorrow.”
“We lost early wickets so it was important to build partnerships and we did that and I am sure the good work will continue tomorrow,” said Ayub.
