Pakistan is gearing up to play the most Tests in a season since 1998-99, with nine matches lined up, of which seven are going to be hosted on its home soil.
This long-awaited season gets underway with the first Test against Bangladesh, starting on Wednesday (August 21).
This series will also see Jason Gillespie taking up his first assignment with Pakistan as the Red Ball head coach, while for Shan Masood, this will be his first Test match as captain on home soil.
He said, “We have a talented group of cricketers who all are eager to do well. Certainly, our bowlers have the ability to take twenty wickets and help the team win matches.”
Masood said the series is an important one and “we are determined to do well. We had good training sessions before the series, and the coaching staff worked hard with the players.” He also acknowledged the expectations of the fans, saying, “Fans always want the cricket team to perform well and win matches for them.”
Bangladesh captain Najam Hussain Shanto also showed his gratitude towards the PCB for letting them practice in Lahore. While talking about the series, he said, “Every match is crucial in the ICC Championship.”
Teams Announced
The playing eleven for Pakistan includes Abdullah Shafiq, Saeem Ayub, Shan Masood — Captain, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel — Vice Captain, Muhammad Rizwan — Wicket Keeper, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Muhammad Ali. Bangladesh’s squad features Najamul Hasan Shanto, captain, Hasan Mahmood, Laton Das, and others.
Match Details
The first Test match will be live on A Sports, PTV Sports, and Ten Sports. The toss is going to take place at 9:30 AM, and the game at 10 AM. Tickets are available online at pcb.tcs.com.pk and physically at the ticket booth located at the Aviation Ground.
