Rain cancels the first day of the series-deciding Rawalpindi Test between Pakistan and Ban.

The toss was delayed by overnight rains, and just after midday, further monsoon rains caused the umpires to call off the day’s play.

The Pakistan Cricket Board stated, “Play on the first day has been cancelled due to persistent rain and wet outfield.” No team emerged from their lodgings.

After Bangladesh won the first Test on Sunday, also at Rawalpindi, it was a gloomy sign for a Pakistan squad keen to level the two-match series.

After 14 Test matches, Bangladesh’s 10-wicket victory over Pakistan was their first.

In order to give pace leader Shaheen Shah Afridi more time to visit with his newborn son, Pakistan excluded him off their 12-man roster.

“Team management wants Shaheen Afridi to spend some time with his family because he is a player in all three formats and recently became a father,” stated Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillespie.

Shaheen Afridi, in particular, had a dismal performance in the first Test match, taking just two wickets in the opening innings.

In the second Test of the two-match series, Pakistan will be trying to get back on track after losing the first Test ever to Bangladesh.

The Pakistani team for the second Test included the following players: Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, and Mir Hamza.