Pakistan likely to opt for pace-heavy attack against Bangladesh in first Test

NEW DELHI: Pakistan team management is likely to field a pace-heavy bowling unit against Bangladesh in the first Test set for August 21-25 in Rawalpindi, anticipating rain and overcast conditions.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted varying intensities of rain across the five days of the match, influencing Pakistan to possibly choose pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, and Khurram Shehzad, with Salman Ali Agha as the lone spinner.
"It is unlikely the lone specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, would get a chance to play because of the weather.
"Even in the four-day match in Islamabad, Bangladesh A were bowled out cheaply on a pitch that favoured pace bowlers," a source close to the selectors said.
The four-day 'unofficial' Test between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh A ended in a draw on Friday due to inclement weather.
Bangladesh A were dismissed for 122 in their first innings and conceded a lead of 245 runs.
In their second innings, they reached 153 for 5 before the umpires called off the match. Additionally, the third day's play was completely washed out.
The Pakistan management is also considering the debut of young opening batter Muhammad Huraira.
Huraira has showcased excellent form recently, scoring a double hundred for the Pakistan Shaheens in a First-Class game against Bangladesh A in Darwin, Australia, last month.
The probable Pakistan eleven for the first Test includes Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Huraira, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, and either Khurrum Shehzad or Muhammad Ali.