The Pakistan cricket team made their way to the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium amidst heavy rainfall on Friday, ahead of their upcoming second and final Test match against Bangladesh commencing the following day.
Due to the persistent rain, the team had to resort to practicing indoors instead of on the field. Having suffered a significant loss in the previous match in Mirpur, the inability to train outdoors has only added to the discomfort of the visiting team.
The return of Babar Azam has brought some positivity, as the key batsman is fit and prepared to play, aiming to help Pakistan recover from their current challenging position.
Babar had been sidelined due to a knee injury just before the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Having recuperated during that match, he was seen practicing intensively in the nets on Friday.
However, his return poses a selection dilemma for the team management. Abdullah Fazl, the young debutant who filled in for him, performed well by scoring fifties in both innings in Mirpur, while Azan Awais, another debutant, hit a century in the first innings. The management faces a tough decision in potentially dropping in-form players to accommodate Babar.
There are speculations that Imam-ul-Haq, who has been struggling to score half-centuries in his recent innings, might be left out to make room for Babar. In such a case, Shan Masood, who has experience as an opener, could be moved up in the batting order.
Masood himself is facing scrutiny, with former cricketers questioning his place in the team. Criticism has also been directed at his captaincy following a string of losses under his leadership.
Responding to the criticism, coach Sarfaraz Ahmed acknowledged the challenges faced by senior players and emphasized the team’s focus on performing well in the upcoming match rather than being affected by external opinions.
Despite the defeat in the previous match, Sarfaraz remained optimistic about the team’s morale, stating that they are looking forward to a fresh start and are determined to bounce back in the upcoming game.
Apart from batting concerns, Pakistan’s bowling performance was also lackluster in the series opener. With the exception of Mohammad Abbas, the bowlers struggled to make an impact, raising concerns about the pace from the frontline seamers.
There are discussions within the team about potential changes in the bowling lineup, including the consideration of bringing in Khurram Shahzad in place of either Shaheen Shah Afridi or Hasan Ali. Furthermore, due to the presence of several left-handed batsmen in the Bangladesh team, the possibility of playing off-spinner Sajid Khan instead of left-arm spinner Noman Ali is being contemplated.
Sarfaraz expressed his confidence in the senior players stepping up and taking on more responsibility in crucial situations, believing that they will contribute positively to the team’s performance in the upcoming matches.
