Pakistan vs Bangladesh: heavy rain delays toss for second test

RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain has delayed the toss and threatened a washout of the opening day of the Pakistan vs Bangladesh second cricket test in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Both teams were still in their hotel and umpires were to inspect the ground only after the rain stopped, with the Met Office forecasting intermittent monsoon rain.

Since morning, sporadic showers have been lashing the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Because of the downpour, most of the stadium is marshy. The pitch has been fully covered and a roller will be brought in to prepare it when the rain fully stops for the Pakistan vs Bangladesh second test match.

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Unfortunately, the outlook for the remainder of the day is not promising either, as intermittent rainfall is anticipated to persist.

It is a bad omen for a Pakistan team desperate to square the two-match series after Bangladesh won the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, on Sunday.

Bangladesh’s 10-wicket victory was their first in 14 Tests against Pakistan.

Pakistan have left out pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi from their 12-member squad for the Pakistan vs Bangladesh second test, allowing him time to spend with his newly born son.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad

Bangladesh Squad

Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed/ Nahid Rana