Salman Ali Agha will bat as the lone spinner, while Pakistan is expected to start with pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, and Khurram Shehzad.
In the first Test, which is set to take place in Rawalpindi between August 21 and 25, Pakistan’s team management is expected to select a pace-heavy bowling unit against Bangladesh due to the weather forecast of rain and cloud cover.
Over the course of the match’s five days, rain of varied intensities is expected, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Salman Ali Agha will be the lone spinner, and Pakistan is expected to start with pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, and Khurram Shehzad.
Because of the conditions, it is unlikely that Abrar Ahmed, the lone specialist spinner, will get to play.
According to a source close to the selectors, “Even in the four-day match in Islamabad, Bangladesh A were bowled out cheaply on a pitch that favoured pace bowlers.”
Due to bad weather, Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh A’s four-day “unofficial” Test ended in a tie on Friday.
After Bangladesh A was bowled out for 122 in their opening innings, the visitors gave up a 245-run lead.
Bangladesh’s second dig saw them at 153 for 5 when the match was canceled by the umpires.
Eight Pakistani Test players participated in the match’s third day of play, which was a total washout.
The management of Pakistan is also debating whether to give Muhammad Huraira, a promising opener, his debut.
Huraira has been playing well lately; last month, in a First-Class match against Bangladesh A in Darwin, Australia, he struck two centuries for the Pakistan Shaheens.
The following players are likely to start for Pakistan in the first Test match against Bangladesh: Muhammad Huraira, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, and Khurrum Shehzad or Muhammad Ali.
