Why is Shoriful Islam not playing the PAK vs BAN 2024 2nd Test in Rawalpindi?
Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam is not part of the team's playing XI for the second Test against Pakistan being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Senior fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was picked as his replacement.
After the opening day of the second Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test was completely washed out due to rain, the match began on Day 2 on Saturday, August 31. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Speaking at the toss, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto confirmed Taskin as a replacement for Shoriful in the playing XI.
An official statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed that Shoriful had been ruled out of the match due to a groin injury. The statement read:
"Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam has a groin strain and could not be considered for selection in the second Test against Pakistan which got underway in Rawalpindi today( Saturday). The left-arm pacer had complained of discomfort in the groin area after the first match and subsequent tests confirmed the injury.
"Shoriful underwent an MRI following the first Test and the results show a Grade 1 left adductor strain. Recovery usually takes around 10 days in such cases and he has started his rehab," Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam Khan was quoted as saying in the official statement.
Shoriful, a 23-year-old left-arm pacer, claimed 2-77 in the first innings against Pakistan and 1-20 in the second. Bangladesh won the Test by 10 wickets to register their maiden win over Pakistan in the red-ball format. In 11 Test matches so far, Shoriful has claimed 25 wickets at an average of 33.72.
Pakistan make decent start in 2nd Test, but Bangladesh chip away at wickets
Sent into bat in the second Test in Rawalpindi, hosts Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique for a duck as he was knocked over by Taskin. Saim Ayub and skipper Shan Masood, however, struck half-centuries to lift Pakistan. The duo added 107 runs for the second wicket.
The second-wicket stand was broken when Masood (57) was trapped leg before by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Ayub (58) was then stumped off the same bowler. Pacer Taskin then claimed his second wicket as Saud Shakeel (16) dragged one back onto his stumps. After 45 overs, Pakistan were 155-4 in their first innings, with Babar Azam batting on 21 and Mohammad Rizwan on 0.