Pak vs Ban: Opening day of second Test called off due to rain

RAWALPINDI: First day of the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh was called off on Friday due to persistent rain and a waterlogged outfield at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The game’s first day was ruined by early morning showers to the point that even toss was impossible.

Both teams remained in their hotel, with the Met Office predicting sporadic monsoon downpours.

Since morning, intermittent rains have been lashing the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Though the pitch was covered but most of the stadium got marshy because of the downpour. Now the match will begin tomorrow morning, given that the dry field is available.

It is a bad omen for a Pakistan team desperate to square the two-match series after Bangladesh won the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, on Sunday.

Bangladesh's 10-wicket victory was their first in 14 Tests against Pakistan.

After upsetting a normally formidable home team, Bangladesh are hoping to secure a first Test-series victory over Pakistan.

Pakistan have left out pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi from their 12-member squad, allowing him time to spend with his newly born son.

Star pacer Afridi struggled to find his rhythm through much of the innings, with Pakistan's head coach Jason Gillespie saying he will be rested to allow him to spend time with his new-born son and family.

"Obviously Shaheen will miss out on this game. We had a good conversation with him and he fully understands and appreciates the thinking behind it. We are just looking at what our best combination is for this game," Gillespie said.

The hosts have been struggling through a lean spell of late, bowing out early in this year's T20 World Cup. Their last Test series was a whitewash in a three-match tour to Australia.

Pakistan team:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad

Pakistan played four fast bowlers in the series opener — Shaheen, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Naseem Shah — as Masood opted to go with a pace attack, but things went awry.