Pakistan team management released their frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed ahead of the first Test. On August 19, the playing XI for the Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium against Bangladesh was announced featuring a pace-heavy attack. While Pakistan have been criticised for dropping their main spinner, skipper Shan Masood defended the decision considering the pace-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi.
"In Rawalpindi, whenever we have played domestic cricket, the conditions have favored the seamers and the batters. Spin-bowling hasn't been such a big threat. So we want to take what we do in domestic cricket forward rather than applying something new, which we don't normally get in Rawalpindi," Masood said in the pre-match press conference.
Abrar is currently playing in the four-day match for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh A at Islamabad Club. Kamran Ghulam was released from the squad alongside Abrar has been appointed the captain of the side. Meanwhile, the only spinner in the side is vice-captain Salman Ali Agha.
Masood also explained why Mohammad Ali made it to the playing XI over Mir Hamza. He wanted someone who can support Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
"If you look in isolation, you can argue why this particular bowler was preferred over another," the 34-year-old noted.
"We considered who could best support Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who will hopefully take the new ball tomorrow. We believe Mohammad Ali is well-suited for this role. He hits the deck hard, can move the ball in the air with the seam, and has that extra pace. It's not about one bowler being better than another, but rather about who fits the conditions best," he added.
Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan vs Bangladesh in Rawalpindi
The last time Pakistan and Bangladesh played a Test on Rawalpindi pitch was in 2020. Pakistan won by an innings and 44 runs. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was wicketless in the first innings but bagged a four-fer in the second.
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