Shakeel, Rizwan steady Pakistan after early collapse

English , Snippets , / Friday, January 17th, 2025

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Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan’s recovery on the fog-hit first day of the Multan Test against the West Indies, steering the team to 143-4 at stumps. Shakeel scored an unbeaten 56, his ninth half-century, while Rizwan contributed an undefeated 51, marking his 11th. Together, they added 97 runs after Pakistan faltered at 46-4.
The day’s play was limited to just 41.3 overs due to morning fog and poor air quality, delaying the start and wiping out the first session. Pakistan chose to bat on a dry, grassless pitch, anticipating spin to dominate later in the game.
Jayden Seales, the standout bowler for the West Indies, claimed 3-21 in 10 overs. He removed debutant Muhammad Hurraira for six, Kamran Ghulam for five, and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for eight, continuing Azam’s lean run at home. Spinner Gudakesh Motie also chipped in by dismissing Shan Masood for 11.
Shakeel and Rizwan, a left-right combination, tackled the spin-heavy West Indies attack with composure. Shakeel hit four boundaries, while Rizwan found the fence seven times.
Both teams fielded three spinners and one frontline pacer, underscoring the pitch’s spin-friendly nature. This two-match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship (2023-2025), features Pakistan and the West Indies ranked eighth and ninth, respectively.
Play resumes Saturday, with Pakistan aiming to build a competitive total and capitalize on their middle-order partnership.