Rain Threatens to Disrupt Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st Test in Rawalpindi: Weather Update for Day 1

The opening day of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, scheduled for Wednesday (August 21), may be affected by rain. Despite the forecast predicting partly sunny weather, there is a high likelihood of thunderstorms in the morning of Day 1 according to the latest weather update in Rawalpindi.

If that happens, there is a possibility of a delayed start to the match. The temperature is likely to hover between 31 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius with an expected wind speed of around 17 km/h on August 21. Throughout the day, the humidity level is likely to be higher due to rain. The precipitation chances are 51 per cent for the day.

The series is part of the World Test Championship in which Pakistan is languishing at No. 6 spot while Bangladesh is at No. 8, above last-place West Indies. Pakistan have an impressive Test record against Bangladesh, winning all but one of the 13 matches. The teams drew at Khulna in Bangladesh in 2015.

The series will be the first Test for Pakistan’s new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie of Australia. Pakistan was swept 3-0 by Australia in the last Test series They played eight months ago. That was also Shan Masood’s debut Test series as Pakistan captain.

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Kamran Ghulam, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Huraira

Bangladesh: Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam