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PAK vs BAN second Test: Today, Bangladesh faces Pakistan in Rawalpindi, aiming to secure their first-ever Test series win against the hosts. The second and final Test of the two-match series is set to start at 11:30 am Bangladesh time. The rain has delayed the start, interrupting play on the first day of this crucial Test. A significant portion of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch and outfield remains covered due to the ongoing rain, leading to a delay in the toss.
The Tigers are in a promising position after their historic 10-wicket victory in the opening Test, which was their first Test win over Pakistan in 14 attempts. This win ended a 23-year wait for Bangladesh and was achieved at the same venue, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
To clinch the series, Bangladesh needs to avoid defeat in this second Test. With the series currently tied 1-0, Nazmul Hossain’s team has a unique opportunity to secure their first Test series win against Pakistan. The postponement of the toss due to rain adds an element of uncertainty, but Bangladesh remains focused on their goal.
The toss for the second Test, originally scheduled to occur shortly, has been delayed by the adverse weather conditions. Both teams are waiting for the rain to clear and for the pitch to be ready for play.
PAK vs BAN second Test: The Effect of Cyclone Asna
Meteorologists have noticed the formation of a cyclonic storm off the coast of Pakistan, in the Arabian Sea over the last couple of days. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the centre of the storm is a depression over the Saurashtra-Kutchh region in Gujarat.
The storm has been expected to move towards the north Arabian Sea, which is closer to the coast of Pakistan. It is not expected to hit the mainland, but the formation of the storm could lead to heavy rains, including in and around Rawalpindi. this is an unseasonal occurrence in this region of the world. If the storm forms fully, it will be just the fourth cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea in August, since 1944. Pakistan has also given the name ‘Asna’ to the storm as per their list of names, and standard protocol.
Shaheen Afridi left out of team for 2nd Bangladesh test
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan star pacer, has been omitted from the squad for the second Test against Bangladesh. which is scheduled to begin on August 30 in Rawalpindi. Coach Jason Gillespie announced on Thursday that the decision was made to allow Shaheen to spend time with his family following the birth of his son.
This decision follows a disappointing performance in the first Test, where Pakistan’s pace attack struggled to contain the Bangladesh batsmen. Shaheen, who has been working on regaining his form after a knee injury, has taken only 16 wickets in 10 innings since his return in July. Gillespie emphasized that Shaheen needs to focus on improving his bowling and spending time with his family.
The 12-member squad for the second Test includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shehzad. The team management has included spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, aiming to revamp their bowling strategy after the first Test saw Pakistan’s four-pacer approach fail.
In the first Test, Pakistan pace quartet—Shaheen, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Naseem Shah—was unable to stop Bangladesh, which dominated and won the match by 10 wickets. The team is now seeking to address these issues and improve their performance in the upcoming Test.
PAK vs BAN 2024 2nd Test Day 1: What is the Rain Forecast During the Game?
AccuWeatherpredicts a 49 percent chance of rain for the first day around 11:00 am local time, coming down to 39 percent by noon. Chances of rainfall remain around 20 percent through the afternoon, meaning there could be a chance of play getting underway later on, just like in the first Test.
BBC Weatherpredicts the chances of rain during the morning session to be 90 percent, with 70 percent by noon and as high as 52 percent by 2:00 pm. This means very minimal play, if any, could be possible as the outfield would need time to dry. According to the chances of rain in Rawalpindi hover around 50 percent until 2:00 pm, going down to around 25 percent after that. Like the BCC Weather forecast, it is not promising for any significant amount of play to happen.
PAK vs BAN 2024 2nd Test: Play Called off on day one Without a Ball Bowled
Persistent rain through the morning session of the Test has led to play being called off on day one of this match, without even the toss taking place. There was an informal inspection of the wicket at 12:00pm local time. which resulted in the umpires calling stumps. Follow for all cricket updates, includinglive scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
Pakistan in a firefight as Bangladesh push for historic series win
Pakistan cricket is not currently enjoying its most successful period, but the recent defeat to Bangladesh was particularly humiliating. For much of the Test match, Pakistan seemed resigned to a draw, a result that would undermine their captain Shan Masood’s ambitious plans for reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Pakistan prospects of a draw evaporated and to add to their woes, they were penalized with points deducted for slow over rates. This penalty pushed them perilously close to the bottom of the table. A home series loss to Bangladesh, which has historically struggled in Test cricket, would be an additional blow to their reputation.
Bangladesh had won only six away Tests in a quarter-century of Full Membership, including two against a weakened West Indies in 2009 and another two against Zimbabwe. The unexpected victory over Pakistan was a significant achievement for them. Masood now faces mounting pressure in his role as captain, having lost all four Tests he has overseen since taking on the role. While some might have been willing to overlook these losses due to promising performances against Australia over the winter, dropping a home series to Bangladesh will offer no such leniency. With tougher series against England and South Africa approaching, retaining the Test trophy against Bangladesh is crucial for maintaining credibility with their supporters.
The weather in Rawalpindi is complicating matters further. Rain has already led to the cancellation of practice sessions before the game, and more rain is expected on the first day. This has made Pakistan hesitant to finalize their playing XI, with both Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza in contention. Masood noted that Pakistan was the more aggressive side in the previous Test, but they must repeat that performance while securing a better result this time around. Bangladesh, on the other hand, needs only a draw to secure the series, which puts them in a strong position.
As for Bangladesh, their performance has been nothing short of impressive. Under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, they not only outplayed but also outthought their opponents. They adhered to fundamental cricketing principles. such as having spinners ready in case of rain, which ultimately proved beneficial. They also avoided the mistake of declaring early due to anticipated rain, a precaution that was ultimately unnecessary. By capitalizing on Pakistan errors, Bangladesh secured a ten-wicket victory that was both clinical and well-deserved.
Despite the significant achievement, Bangladesh is mindful of the need for restraint in their celebrations. With one Test remaining and no clear indication that Pakistan will be able to produce a favorable pitch, Bangladesh will focus on maintaining their momentum from the first Test. They will be keen to continue their disciplined approach, as demonstrated previously and not be distracted by the potential for overconfidence.
For Pakistan, the upcoming Test is a crucial opportunity to regain their footing. They must navigate the challenges of the weather and strategic decisions while aiming to reverse their fortunes. Bangladesh, having shown they are not easily displaced, will be determined to capitalize on their current form and secure a historic series win.
