No play was possible before lunch on the first day of the Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Wednesday due to wet patches on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium outfield from overnight rain.
Umpires Richard Kettleborough from England and Adrian Holdstock from South Africa conducted two inspections of the ground and will perform a third at 12:00pm, which aligns with the scheduled lunch break, according to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) update on X.
The likelihood of play starting before lunch increased as the sun emerged and the skies cleared.
This two-match series is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) third cycle (2023-2025), with Pakistan currently sixth and Bangladesh eighth in the standings.
The second Test will also be held in Rawalpindi, starting August 30, following a venue change from Karachi due to ongoing construction at the stadium.
In team news, all-rounder Aamer Jamal has been excluded from Pakistan’s playing XI for this Test and has also been dropped from the squad. Aamer, who made an impression during his Test debut series against Australia in December-January, has been advised to focus on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore due to a back injury sustained during county cricket this year, the PCB confirmed.
