The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, set to kick off on August 21 in Rawalpindi. The big news? Pakistan is going all-in with an all-pace attack—a move that hasn’t been seen at home in nearly three decades.
Shan Masood’s First Home Test as Captain
Shan Masood will lead Pakistan for the first time in a home Test, and he’s making his intentions clear with a pace-heavy strategy.
The four-pronged pace attack will feature the ever-reliable Shaheen Shah Afridi, the fiery Naseem Shah, the up-and-coming Khurram Shehzad, and the experienced Mohammad Ali.
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It’s a bold move, especially on home soil, where spin has often played a crucial role. But Rawalpindi’s conditions seem to favor this gamble. Notably, this is only the second time in 28 years that Pakistan has fielded an all-pace attack in a home Test.
The last time this happened was in 2019, also at Rawalpindi, against Sri Lanka. Clearly, the team management believes that the conditions in Rawalpindi will offer enough assistance to their fast bowlers to justify this rare approach.
Batting Lineup: A Mix of Youth and Experience
On the batting front, Pakistan will open with the promising duo of Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub. Abdullah has cemented his pace already, while Saim has shown glimpses of brilliance in his brief international career.
The middle order is where Pakistan’s strength lies, anchored by skipper Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam. Newly-appointed vice-captain Saud Shakeel, who has been in good form, adds further depth to the lineup.
Mohammad Rizwan, who will don the gloves, and Salman Ali Agha round out a well-balanced batting order.
Venue Change for the Second Test
While the first Test will take place in Rawalpindi, the second match of the series was originally scheduled to be held at Karachi’s National Stadium. However, due to ongoing renovation work at the venue in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the match has been moved to Rawalpindi as well.
As the series gets underway, all eyes will be on how Pakistan’s pace attack performs on a surface traditionally known to assist fast bowlers.
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With the WTC points on the line, both teams will be eager to make a strong start. For Pakistan, this Test series is an opportunity to build momentum and test their young talents in the longest format.
With the first ball set to be bowled soon, cricket fans are in for an exciting contest between two teams looking to make their mark in the ICC World Test Championship.
Pakistan Playing XI Against Bangladesh
- Abdullah Shafique
- Saim Ayub
- Shan Masood (C)
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel (VC)
- Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Khurram Shehzad
- Mohammad Ali
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