Heavy rain has delayed the start of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The toss, scheduled for this morning, could not occur as rain continued to pour, keeping both teams at their hotel. The umpires are waiting for the rain to stop before inspecting the ground.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the second Test is crucial for Pakistan. After losing the first Test to Bangladesh, Pakistan must win to level the series. The match is being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but the weather forecast predicts rain throughout the day, which could further disrupt the game.
Pakistan has changed its squad, leaving out fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and including spinner Abrar Ahmed. The team’s batting lineup struggled in the first Test and will need to improve significantly to compete against a confident Bangladesh side that won the first Test by ten wickets.
In a positive move, the PCB has offered free entry to students for the second Test from August 30 to September 3. Students in uniform with their school ID cards can watch the match from premium enclosures like the Miran Bakhsh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, and Yasir Arafat stands. A free shuttle bus service is also available for spectators, although free entry does not apply to the PCB Gallery or Platinum Boxes.
The rain has also delayed the third One Day International (ODI) between the Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh A teams, scheduled for today in Islamabad.
