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Day 1 of the first Test match of the two-game series between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadiuꦕm has been significantly delayed due to a wet outfield.
Rawalpindi Stadium: Continued wet outfield prevents play
Persistent rain earlier in the day left sevജeral patches of the ground soggy, thwarting initial attempts to start the match. The umpires conducted a second inspection at 11:00 a.m. local time to assess the playing conditions. Unfortunately, the conditions did not improve as hoped. Despite the rain having stopped and sunshine making an ap♔pearance, the outfield remained wet. The damp conditions rendered the ground unplayable, leading to an early lunch break. As a result, the first session of the Test ended without any play being possible.
Fan outrage and Stadium conditions
The delay has led to considerable frustration among cricket fans, who have taken to social media to voice their concerns. Criticism has been directed at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for what many perceive as inadequate seating arrangements at the stadium. Photographs shared online show only a few temporary seats available, raising questions about the PCB’s preparedness. Additionally, the stadium’s drainage system has been criticized, as the outfield remained wet despite the rain having stopped hours earlier.
Here’s how Fans reacted:
Inspection pe Inspection. Sunny weather no rain since last night but still losing almost a day’s play due to wet🔯💜 outfield. Subhan Allah
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoor_ze)
Rain,inspection,wet outfield,rain,lunch,inspection, rain, tea break, wet out fieldౠ, inspection, stumps
— Ahmed.. 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@nwgenerationX)
Yeh Pindi walay bhai .. haar waqt Pindi stadium Pindi stadium kartey rehtey hain. Aik Duo wet patඣches tu dry kiye nahi ja rahey in se.
— Syed Ali Imran (@syedaliimran)
//twitter.com/im💟zaibktk/status/1826163192759758907
🚨 Groundsmen are on rest! Sun-shine is the only option left to dry the outfield of Pindi Cricke♑t Stadium!
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_)
Our stadium in pindi still doesn't have a proper drainage system and they don't even cover the entire ground before it rains… speechless
— Ibrahim (@Ibrahim___56)
//twitter.com/KirkutExpert99/status/182🐽6161406267527310
the sun is at full bloom but no play possible for over 2 hours now, you got to have better drainage system than this for Internation🐟al cricket, this is complete negligence and incompꦍetence. | |
— Ahmad Amin Khan (@AhmadAminKhan)
Rawalpindi📍
• Pindi will turn into big numbers. They deserve better💛 sitting even it’s a test꧅ match.— Abubakar Bin Tallat (@AbubakarAbbasii)
For an international stadium like this in Rawalpindi, 𝕴the fact no cricket is currently being played in these sunny conditions is disappointing. Bꦫetter drainage is a must.
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog)
//tꦫwitter.𝓡com/Chinki___2004/status/1826163028632486216
Also READ: PAK vs BAN, 1s🐲t Test: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report, Rawalpindi Weather Report, Head to Head Record | Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2024
Pakistan’s new coaching staff and leadership
This Test match is a key fixture in the World Test Championship (WTC), where Pakistan currently holds thꦬe sixth position and Bangladesh is eighth, just above the last-placed West Indies. Historical𝓰ly, Pakistan has had a dominant record against Bangladesh, winning 12 out of 13 matches. The sole draw in their series occurred in Khulna in 2015.
The series also mark the debut of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan’s new head coach for red-ball cricket. The Australian legend steps in after Pakistan’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Australia in their previous Test series. This series will be Gillespie’s first opportunity to shape the team’s performance and strategy. Furthermore, Shan Masood will lead Pakistan a𒁃s captain for the first time in Test cricket, having been appointed during the previous series.
Future fixtures against Bangladesh
The second Test of the series is scheduled to commence on August 30, with Rawalpindi hosting this match as well. The PCB had originally planned for the National Bank Stadium to host these fixtures but had to relocate the series due to ongoing construction work. The venue adjustments are part of the preparations for the Champions Trophy (CT) scheduled for next year, adding to the logist🤡ical challenges faced by the PCB.
