Pakistan opt to bowl in second Test against Bangladesh

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the second Test in Sylhet. Bangladesh lead the two-match ICC World Test Championship series 1-0 after a 104-run win in the opener.

DHAKA: Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first in the second Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The match comes with Bangladesh holding a 1-0 advantage in the series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship. The hosts moved ahead after winning the opening Test by 104 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

In that match, Pakistan were set 268 for victory but were dismissed for 163, allowing Bangladesh to take the lead in the series.

Series situation

Saturday’s fixture is the second and final Test of the series. With Bangladesh already ahead 1-0, Pakistan entered the match looking to level the contest, while the home side began the game in a position to seal the series.

The toss result meant Pakistan elected to bowl first on the opening day in Sylhet. The development was reported as the match got under way, with further details expected later.

Pakistan squad

Pakistan’s squad for the match includes Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Bangladesh squad

Bangladesh’s squad includes Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Litton Das (wk), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Amite Hasan, Mominul Haque, Zakir Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Ebadot Hossain.

The series has already seen Bangladesh make the early breakthrough by taking the first Test in Dhaka. Pakistan, after opting to bowl first in the series opener as well, were unable to complete the chase in the fourth innings and fell short by 104 runs.

The second Test therefore opened with Pakistan again choosing to send Bangladesh in, as the visitors sought a response after the defeat in the first match.