Pakistan regroup with Shakeel, Saim half-centuries

Pakistan batters Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub hit half-centuries to propel their side to 158 for four at Stumps on Day 1 of the first Test of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh on Wednesday. 

Shakeel remained unbeaten on 57, with Mohammad Rizwan not out on 24 at the other end after Saim edged one to the slips late in the final session after amassing 56 runs. Only 41 overs were bowled due to the rain delay.

The hosts were reduced to three down for 16 in a rain-delayed first session after they were put into bat first but a 98-run stand between Shakeel and Saim helped consolidate the Pakistan innings and brush away the early jitters.

Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud, who took two wickets in the day, got the ball rolling for the Tigers as he nicked off opener Abdullah Shafique in the fourth over of the innings. His partner Shoriful Islam, who also scalped two, took the second when he sent back Pakistan skipper Shan Masood in the seventh over. In his next over, he nicked off Babar Azam down the leg side to give his side the upper hand in the session. 

Shakeel and Saim engineered Pakistan's rebuild but Hasan's persistence with line and length earned him a second scalp late in the day.

Shakeel, Saim steady Pakistan innings 

Saim Ayub (42*) and Saud Shakeel (29*) took Pakistan innings to 81 for three after 21 overs before Lunch was taken on the first day of the Rawalpindi Test.

The third wicket partnership added 65 runs after the hosts were in a spot of bother early in the day. Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud were the architect of Pakistan's early slump after play started four-and-a-half hours later than scheduled due to wet outfield.

Bangladesh pacers strike three early blows

Bangladesh pacers reduced hosts Pakistan to 29 for three after 10 overs in the Rawalpindi Test, after having opted to bowl first.

Hasan Mahmud was the first to strike, sending back opener Abdullah Shafique for two, with Zakir Hasan taking a blinder in the slips.

Then Shoriful Islam had skipper Shan Masood caught behind, although there was doubt about the dismissal. The left-armer soon sent back former skipper Babar Azam for a duck, with wicketkeeper Liton Das taking an excellent catch down the leg side.

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My dream wicket is Babar Azam: Shoriful 

Bangladesh bowl in wet Rawalpindi

Bangladesh opted to field first in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi today.

Even though the venue is historically known to have favoured batting, the relentless overnight rain which forced a four-and-a-half hour delay for

the start, is believed to have prompted the visitors to elect to bowl first.

The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side will feature three pacers alongside two spin-bowling all-rounders and six specialist batters which includes a wicketkeeper.

"I like to bowl first. The wicket has moisture, so will help our seam bowlers. We have a very good combination with seam bowlers and allrounders, we had a very good preparation. It is very important how we play this Test match. I'm very lucky and very thankful to our cricket board, I'm enjoying the captaincy. We have six batters, two allrounders and three seamers," Shanto said on winning the toss.