Pakistan team trains ahead of their second Test match against Bangladesh. — Photo courtesy: PCB X
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced a 12-man squad for the Green Team’s second Test match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan cricket’s nightmarish slide continued on Sunday, when Bangladesh recorded their first-ever Test triumph over the hosts, taking the opening fixture of the two-match series with a clinical 10-wicket win at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, reports Dwan.
The defeat marked Pakistan’s second upset loss this year after the T20 international shock against the USA, raising questions over their standing as a red-ball side — which has now lost four of their six fixtures of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle — as well.
Pakistan went into the match — at the back of a head-to-head record of 12 wins out of 13 matches — pumped with the ambition of making next year’s WTC final, intending to dismantle Bangladesh with an all-pace bowling attack, only to find themselves clueless against the visitors’ spinners on the fifth day.
The side recalled leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed on Wednesday for the second Test against Bangladesh after their decision to play an all-pace attack on a slow track backfired in the series opener Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared seven wickets as they bowled Bangladesh to a memorable 10-wicket victory.
Abrar, who has 38 wickets from six tests, was subsequently added to the squad.
In a post on X on Thursday, PCB announced its 12-man squad for the second Test.
Shaheen Shah Afridi who was released from the squad after the conclusion of the first Test was rested whereas pacer Mir Hamza and Abrar returned to the side for the second match.
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.
