Pakistan’s Test captain, Shan Masood, was visibly furious following his controversial dismissal on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The incident unfolded when Masood was given not out by on-field umpire Adrian Holdstock after Bangladesh appealed for a catch to the keeper. However, after a review by the Bangladesh team, the decision was overturned, leading to Masood’s outrage.
The Incident: A Closer Look
The drama began when Bangladesh’s players loudly appealed for a catch, prompting the visitors to opt for the Decision Review System (DRS). As the third umpire, Michael Gough, reviewed the footage, it became apparent that the ultra-edge showed a spike just after the ball had passed the bat. Furthermore, visuals indicated that the ball had touched Masood’s pad. Despite this evidence, the decision was reversed, much to Masood’s dismay.
In the aftermath of the decision, Masood approached the on-field umpire for clarification, but his protests were in vain as the ruling stood. The frustration was palpable, especially when Masood later watched the replay in the dressing room, seemingly indicating that the ball had indeed made contact with his pad.
Pakistan’s Struggles on Day One
Despite the controversy surrounding Masood’s dismissal, the home side managed to put some runs on the board, thanks to fifties from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel. However, the team struggled to build significant partnerships, with Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud each striking twice to keep the pressure on the Pakistani batting lineup.
Notably, Babar Azam continued to have a disappointing outing, dismissed for a duck by Islam, marking his eighth duck in Test cricket. The team’s overall performance was hampered by the early loss of key players, leaving them in a precarious position.
Delays and Conditions Impacting Play
The first Test got off to an anti-climactic start, as rain delays due to a wet outfield resulted in nearly four hours of lost play on the first day. The match was initially scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM, but conditions forced the start to be pushed back until after lunch.
With overcast conditions prevailing, Pakistan aimed to capitalize on the situation by posting a substantial total. The team hoped that their all-pace attack could exploit the conditions, which appeared favorable for fast bowlers.
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