Rawalpindi: Bangladesh left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam took two quick wickets in four balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 112-3 on a rain-affected opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old fast bowler took two crucial wickets in quick succession, dismissing Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam. Shoriful’s efforts left the home team reeling at 16-3 early in their innings, with only Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel offering resistance.
After winning the toss, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bowl first, a decision that proved to be strategic. Shoriful and his new-ball partner Hasan Mahmud exploited the greenish pitch effectively. Mahmud made the initial breakthrough by removing Abdullah Shafique, who was caught at gully by Zakir Hasan for just two runs in the fourth over.
Shoriful then claimed the key wicket of Shan Masood, who was dismissed for six after being caught behind by wicketkeeper Liton Das. This dismissal followed a successful review of a not-out decision by South African umpire Adrian Holdstock. Masood contested the decision with television umpire Martin Gough of England, but the review confirmed the edge, leading to his departure.
Shoriful’s next over saw the dismissal of Babar Azam for a duck. Babar Azam, who has been a dominant force in Test cricket, was out to a leg-side delivery that he nicked, leaving him with a rare home-ground duck in 14 Tests. Liton Das took a smart catch to secure this second crucial wicket.
Despite the early setbacks, Pakistan managed to stage a partial recovery. Saim Ayub, who remained unbeaten on 53, and Saud Shakeel, who contributed 42, formed a crucial partnership that added 96 runs for the fourth wicket.
The Test match is being contested with Pakistan opting for an all-pace attack, featuring four fast bowlers and no frontline spinner. In contrast, Bangladesh has included three pacers and two spinners in their lineup.
This match is part of the two-Test series, which is crucial for both teams in the World Test Championship standings. Pakistan currently holds the sixth position, while Bangladesh is in eighth place.
