Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis (left) celebrates after hitting half-century vs NZ.© AFP

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel knocked brilliant centuries to guide Pakistan to an imposing 448-6 declared before Bangladesh closed the second day on 27-0 in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Rizwan’s unbeaten 171 was his Test best and third century in the format while Shakeel’s 141 was equally polished as the duo lifted Pakistan from a precarious 16-3 on Wednesday. Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam was 12 and Zakir Hasan on 11, negotiating 12 overs of pace without any problem as the Rawalpindi stadium pitch has not assisted bowlers as predicted.

Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp hoped his batters match their opponents.

“It’s a pretty good batting pitch and we hope it continues like this,” said Hemp, a former Bermuda player. 

“Our batters need to match Pakistan’s batters and we need to get closer to Pakistan’s total.”

Bangladesh had pushed Pakistan on the backfoot on day one but it was Shakeel who repaired the innings with Saim Ayub (56) through a 98-run fourth wicket stand before another 240 runs were added for the next with Rizwan as Pakistan blunted Bangladesh’s attack.

Rizwan, who hit three sixes and 11 boundaries in a 239-ball knock, added a quick 44 with Shaheen Shah Afridi who smacked two sixes and a boundary in a blistering 29 not out.

That allowed Pakistan to declare their first innings 78-minutes after tea.

Shakeel said it is too early to give a verdict on the pitch.

“The ball was moving early on (Wednesday) but if you look at Bangladesh’s bowling they bowled short of length and had they pitched it up they would have got more success,” said Shakeel.

“Let our bowlers bowl tomorrow then we can have a final say on the pitch.”

Bangladesh failed to get a wicket in the first session as Rizwan and Shakeel batted superbly to help Pakistan reach 256-4 at lunch.

Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz ended Bangladesh’s frustrating wait for the wicket, luring Shakeel out of the crease as wicketkeeper Litton Das removed the bails, ending a brilliant 261-ball knock.

Shakeel also scored his third Test century and hit nine boundaries. 

Shakeel also survived a freakish run out attempt on 138 when he stepped out of his crease while leaving paceman Hasan Mahmud‘s delivery, but made it back as Das hit the stumps.

Agha Salman made 19.

Pacers Hasan Mahmud (2-70) and Shoriful Islam (2-77) were the pick of Bangladesh bowlers, while Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan grabbed a wicket each.

Resuming at 158-4, Shakeel and Rizwan added 98 runs in an extended two-hour and 15-minute morning session after play on the first day was delayed by a wet outfield.

Looking for early wickets, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto used all his bowlers but none could replicate the success achieved on day one.

The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle with Pakistan currently sixth and Bangladesh eighth on the nine-team table.

Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan ran 4 runs© X (Twitter)

File image of Babar Azam.© X (Twitter)

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.

Mahmud hoped Bangladesh would dismiss Pakistan early on Thursday.

“We tried to bowl in the right areas and got early success,” he said. “We will come up with a plan to get early wickets on this pitch tomorrow.”

Ayub said the partnership with Shakeel was crucial.

“We lost early wickets so it was important to build partnerships and we did that and I am sure the good work will continue tomorrow,” he said.

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.

Pakistan pacer Khurram Shahzad rattled star batter Babar Azam during an intense net session, ahead of a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting August 21. Babar looked in visible pain after Shahzad’s inswinger copped him near the abdominal region. Shehzad, however, was quick to apologise as he ran straight to Babar to check on him. While Babar was quick to get back to his feet after copping the blow, he struggled to time the ball during the entire net session. In fact, Babar got clean bowled on the very next delivery he faced off the same bowler.

The video was shared by Cricket Pakistan on their official Instagram handle, and the incident has now gone viral on social media.

The Pakistan cricket team assembled in Rawalpindi earlier this week, ahead of the series-opener at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from August 21 to August 25.

The two Tests against Bangladesh will mark the first assignment of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan’s Test coach.

The second Test of the two-match series is set to be played from August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that spectators will not be allowed during the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh due to ongoing renovations at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Pakistan have opted for a pace-heavy lineup with five fast bowlers and just one frontline spinner, Abrar Ahmed. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel has been appointed as the new vice-captain.

Pakistan squad for Test series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Bangladesh squad for Test series: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan. Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.

(With ANI Inputs)