PAK vs BAN: Babar Azam scripts unwanted record, scores first home Test duck of career

Pakistan’s Babar Azam scripted an unwanted record on Wednesday when he scored the first career duck in a home test match when he went down in just the second ball he faced against Bangladesh in the first Test.

This was also the 8th Test duck of his career and his first in Tests since 2021 where he was out for 0 against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Babar’s wicket put Pakistan in a fix after the Men in Green had already lost 2 early wickets in the match. Shoriful Islam had bowled the delivery that was swinging towards the leg side and Babar tried to attack the ball, got an edge and wicketkeeper Liton Das took a stunning catch.

Babar Azam 0(2) vs Bangladesh

Ball by Ball pic.twitter.com/lMVs7qO3D1 — Naeem (@Naeemception) August 21, 2024

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to field in the first test against Pakistan after almost two sessions of play was lost due to a wet outfield at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

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Umpires Richard Kettleborough and Adrian Holdstock made four inspections after early morning rain left a few wet patches which required more than five hours to dry.

Pakistan has opted to go with all-out pace attack including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali in a hope the green-top wicket will help its fast bowlers.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha, who bowls offspin, is the sole spinner for Pakistan after specialist leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was released from the first test squad.

Pakistan also preferred to give aggressive opening batter Saim Ayub another opportunity and left out uncapped Mohammad Hurraira, who has scored prolifically in the domestic season.

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Bangladesh’s experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim returns to the red ball format after 10 months, but the visitors preferred to go with three fast bowlers — Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana. All-rounders Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are the two spin options.

Bangladesh had to include Shadman Islam after opening batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy was ruled out of the opener due to a groin injury sustained during Bangladesh A’s four-day game against Pakistan Shaheens in Islamabad.

The two-test series is part of ICC World Test Championship in which Pakistan is ranked sixth and and Bangladesh is eighth, just above last-placed West Indies.

Rawalpindi will also host the second test starting Aug. 30 after the Pakistan Cricket Board moved the game due to construction work going on at the National Bank Stadium ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.

(With agency inputs)

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