Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat in the first Test against the West Indies in Multan on Friday, following a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to poor visibility.
Umpires conducted two inspections after the scheduled toss at 9 a.m. was postponed due to fog, as reported by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The air quality in Multan was deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and expected to worsen throughout the day, according to IQAir.
Both teams fielded three spinners and one primary fast bowler, anticipating the dry, grassless Multan Stadium pitch to start turning early.
Pakistan gave a Test debut to 22-year-old opener Muhammad Hurraira, while West Indies’ Tevin Imlach is also playing his first Test.
This two-match series is part of the World Test Championship, where Pakistan is ranked eighth, and the West Indies is at the bottom in ninth place.
The second Test will take place in Multan starting January 25.
Teams:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (Captain), Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican
Umpires: Rodney Tucker (AUS) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).
