Pakistan reached 99-1 at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Saturday, as they aim to level the series.
After losing the first Test by ten wickets, Pakistan faced an early setback when Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for a duck in the very first over.
However, captain Shan Masood and Saim Ayub steadied the innings, forging a crucial 99-run partnership for the second wicket. Masood remained unbeaten on 53, marking his tenth Test half-century, while Ayub was on 43, showing more aggression with two sixes and three boundaries.
The first day of play was washed out due to rain, but Pakistan took full advantage of the sunny conditions on Saturday. Bangladesh, who won the toss and opted to field, made one change to their lineup, bringing in fast bowler Taskin Ahmed in place of the unfit Shoriful Islam.
Pakistan, on the other hand, rested their key bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, replacing them with Mir Hamza and spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan, led by Masood, are under pressure to win this match after a disappointing loss in the first Test. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is looking to secure a historic first Test series victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, emphasized the need for the bowlers to adopt a more disciplined and ruthless approach in this match.
Gillespie noted that the team’s poor over rates in the first Test were unacceptable and stressed the importance of maintaining pressure on the opposition by consistently hitting the right spots on the pitch.
The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle, adding further significance to the outcome of this match.
