MULTAN: Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan’s recovery in the first Test against the West Indies, both scoring unbeaten half-centuries as the hosts reached 143-4 at the end of a fog-affected opening day.
Play was cut short due to bad light in Multan, with only 41.3 overs bowled. Shakeel remained on 56, marking his ninth half-century, while Rizwan was not out at 51, his 11th half-century.
The pair put on 97 runs for the fifth wicket after Pakistan found themselves struggling at 46-4. Shakeel and Rizwan tackled the West Indies’ spin-heavy attack with ease, following early trouble caused by fast bowler Jayden Seales.
“This pitch is tough to bat on,” said Rizwan. “We batted cautiously and capitalized on loose balls. We don’t know what a good total is yet, but we will aim for over 300.”
Pakistan opted to bat after winning the toss, anticipating a difficult pitch for batting as the match progressed. The dry, grassless Multan pitch was expected to favor spin on the last two days. However, early morning fog and poor air quality delayed play and wiped out the first session.
Shakeel has hit four boundaries so far, while Rizwan has seven. Seales claimed 3-21 from 10 overs.
“My aim was to build pressure and take wickets,” Seales commented. “Spin will be a key factor here as the match progresses.”
Both teams started with three spinners and one fast bowler. The West Indies opened with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and Seales. It was Seales who made the first breakthrough, catching debutant Muhammad Hurraira’s edge behind the wicket in the sixth over, sending him back for six.
Three overs later, Motie dismissed Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood for 11, and Seales then trapped Kamran Ghulam leg-before for five. The score stood at 46-4 when Babar Azam edged Seales behind for eight, continuing a poor run of form for Pakistan’s star batter.
This two-match series is part of the World Test Championship. Pakistan is currently ranked eighth, while the West Indies are ninth and last.
Champions Trophy Returning to Pakistan after World Tour
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is set to return to Pakistan after its world tour, with the trophy expected to arrive in Lahore later this month. The trophy has visited all the countries participating in the tournament, which will take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
The Champions Trophy will be displayed in various cities across Pakistan, with plans to visit different parts of Punjab as well. The final stop will be Lahore, after it was showcased in other major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, and Murree last November.
The tournament, featuring eight teams, will be played across three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi – as well as in Dubai. The teams are divided into two groups: Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B features Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.
The opening match will be Pakistan against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, followed by a much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India on February 23 in Dubai.
The final will be held in Lahore, though if India qualifies, it will be moved to Dubai. A reserve day has also been scheduled for potential weather disruptions.
