Cricket and politics go hand-in-hand in Bangladesh, but ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan — a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina’s party — is being allowed to feature in the Pakistan series by the interim government.
“Because of the situation it was not possible to practice,” spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed told reporters.
The tourists got some reprieve after the Pakistan Cricket Board invited them to arrive four days early to make up for their lack of preparations.
A second-string Bangladesh team — with six players included from the national team — had already been playing practice games in Islamabad since August 10.
To add to Bangladesh’s problems, in-form opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been ruled out of the first Test with a groin strain, but senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim is expected to recover in time from a finger injury.
Bangladesh will be hoping to overturn its no-win record against Pakistan, having lost 12 of the 13 Tests, with just one draw.
Pakistan will host Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting here on Wednesday.
The two-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle with Pakistan sixth in the current nine-team table and Bangladesh eighth.
The second Test — both matches moved to Rawalpindi because of construction work at Karachi stadium — will be played from August 30.
Following a 3-0 rout in Australia earlier this year, Pakistan brought in former Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie as Test coach, while Adelaide groundsman Damien Hough was hired to improve the standard of pitches.
The biggest change comes in the bowling unit with the likes of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi making their return to the side.
Having released its only spinner, Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan will enter the Test with an all-pace attack — a ploy it last used five years ago against Sri Lanka at the same venue.
Bangladesh, however, will rely on spin with Shakib (237 wickets), Taijul Islam (195), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (164) all included.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood refused to accept the Bangladesh team is under-prepared.
“You expect all international Test sides to come into a series well prepared and trying to play their best cricket,” he told AFP.
“Bangladesh is a side that has quality players in all departments and we highly respect the challenges they bring as a side to us.”
Masood also hopes Pakistan will show improvement under the new coach.
“We are excited to see how they (coaches) help us to be better people, better cricketers and — most importantly — be among the top teams in the world.”
Pakistan v Bangladesh Test match schedule
21-25 August, 2024: 1st Test, Rawalpindi
30 August – 3 September 2024: 2nd Test, Rawalpindi.
Teams
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Adrian Holdstock (RSA)
Tv umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
