Pakistan rest Shaheen and Naseem, Taskin back for Bangladesh

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and decided to field first in the second Test of the two-match series in Rawalpindi. After Day 1 of the Test was washed out, the second day on Saturday (August 31) started with bright sunshine baking the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the military town of Pakistan. 

Bangladesh made a single change as they brought in Taskin Ahmed in place of Shoriful Islam, who, according to Shanto, had a niggle and therefore had to sit out. 

Pakistan on the other hand brought in wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of Shaheen Afridi, who left the squad after the end of the first Test to be with his wife for their childbirth. Mir Hamza, the left-arm quick, replaced Naseem Shah, who was rested for this game. Hamza has played five Tests so far. 

What did the captains say?

Najmul Hossain Shanto: We will bowl first, there's some moisture and it should help our pacers. We played good cricket in the last match, but that was past and we're looking forward to this game. Shoriful has a niggle and he's replaced by Taskin

Shan Masood:  We would have bowled first with the wicket under covers. It's a 4-day game now. From the 12, we've rested Naseem, so Abrar and Mir Hamza come in for Shaheen and Naseem. He's (on Abrar) done well on green tracks, and has got some help as well, so we're playing 3 pacers and two spinners

Playing XIs

Pakistan Playing XI

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Mir Hamza

Bangladesh Playing XI

Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das(w), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana

What’s at stake?

Pakistan trail 0-1 in the series after having lost the first game by 10 wickets. So their reputation is at stake. If they do not win, not only would they let go of 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points, but also a series. Failure to win will make it 10 consecutive home Tests without a win for the Men in Green.

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