Ayub, Shakeel rescue Pak in BD Test

Visitors' new-ball pair of Shoriful and Mahmud jolt home side after a delayed start

RAWALPINDI:

Left-handers Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub hit fighting half-centuries to help Pakistan recover to 158-4 on a rain-hit opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Shakeel was unbeaten on 57 at the close while Ayub scored 56 for his maiden fifty during an innings-building stand of 98 for the fourth wicket after Pakistan were tottering at 16-3.

Shakeel brought up 1,000 runs in his 11th Test when he reached 33 and hit five boundaries in his seventh half-century. He added a further 44 for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Rizwan, who was unbeaten on 24.

Ayub, who hit four boundaries and a six, fell late in the day, driving wildly off Hasan Mahmud and was caught at third slip.

The new-ball pairing of Shoriful Islam (2-30) and Mahmud (2-33) jolted Pakistan after a delayed start of 230 minutes due to a wet outfield after overnight rain.

Shoriful removed the home team's skipper Shan Masood for six and then star batter Babar Azam for a two-ball duck before Pakistan launched their recovery on a greenish pitch.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto wasted no time in sending Pakistan in to bat after winning the toss and had them on 81-3 at tea.

Mahmud gave the visitors the first breakthrough when Abdullah Shafique was smartly caught at gully by Zakir Hasan for two in the fourth over.

Shoriful then had Masood caught behind off a sharp delivery, with Bangladesh successfully reviewing a not out decision by South African umpire Adrian Holdstock.

Azam nicked a leg-side delivery in Shoriful's next over and was caught by wicketkeeper Liton Das for his first home-ground duck in 14 Tests.

Pakistan entered the Test with four fast bowlers in an all-pace attack with no frontline spinner, while Bangladesh included three pacers and two spinners.

The two-match series is part of the nine-team World Test championship, with Pakistan currently sixth in the standings and Bangladesh eighth.

PCB says stadium revamps won't disrupt CT

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shot down media reports that the redevelopment of three stadiums to be used at next year's Champions Trophy will not be completed in time, saying only bilateral tests and domestic matches may be affected.

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium are being revamped for the Feb. 19 to March 9 tournament next year. Ongoing construction work may affect Pakistan's bilateral commitments this season, including the test against England in Karachi.

The second test between Pakistan and Bangladesh has already been shifted from Karachi to Rawalpindi. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi spoke to the media following his inspection of the Gaddafi Stadium renovations in Lahore on Monday and said much work is still to be done as none of the stadiums currently meet international standards.

"It is disappointing that certain media outlets have misrepresented PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi's comments," the PCB said in a statement on Tuesday. "The PCB Chair clearly stated that the redevelopment and redesign of the three designated stadiums would be completed on schedule, ensuring readiness to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

"While some domestic matches may need to be shifted to facilitate uninterrupted construction work, this in no way pertains to the ICC Champions Trophy, which remains a priority for the PCB as a premier eight-team international event."

The PCB have also appointed UK's BDP Pattern to improve the infrastructure of its cricket stadiums, the architecture company announced on Tuesday. Pakistan won the last edition of the Champions Trophy when it was held in England in 2017 before it was discontinued due to a crowded calendar. However, it is being reintroduced with the ICC keen to stage a big event every year.