The first Test match of a two-match series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is set to kick off on Wednesday, August 21, at Rawalpindi. The Pakistani team, led by Shan Masood, currently holds the sixth position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, with 2 wins and 3 losses under their belt.
On the other hand, Bangladesh sits at the eighth spot in the WTC table, having secured only 1 win and suffered 3 losses in their 4 matches so far. A clean sweep by Pakistan in the upcoming Test series could potentially propel them to the third position in the WTC points table.
Prior to the commencement of the first Test match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, The Sporting News provides insights into the pitch report and historical records at this venue.
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Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Hosting History
Rawalpindi Stadium has hosted a total of 13 Tests. Out of these, 4 matches have ended in a draw, while the chasing side has emerged victorious in only one instance. The teams defending the total in the fourth innings have clinched victory 8 times.
Seating Capacity
The stadium can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators.
Pitch Analysis
Recent images suggest that the pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the first Test match will have live grass. With overcast conditions expected, fast bowlers are likely to benefit from swing, seam movement, and extra bounce.
Batters may find the initial two days challenging, but as the sun breaks through, the pitch is anticipated to become more batting-friendly from the third day onwards.
Pakistan’s pitches usually offer slow turns for spinners, with the grass potentially providing some bounce to trouble the batters.
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Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Test Statistics
| Average first innings score in Rawalpindi | 338 |
| Matches won defending in the fourth innings | 8 |
| Matches won by chasing team in the fourth innings | 1 |
Previous Test at Rawalpindi
The last Test at Rawalpindi featured Pakistan and England in December 2022, with England emerging victorious by 74 runs.
The upcoming Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh marks the return of Test cricket to the stadium after a hiatus of over one and a half years.
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Historical Milestones
During England’s tour of Pakistan in 2022, the visitors set a record score of 657/10 at Rawalpindi. Rahul Dravid’s 270 remains the highest individual score at the ground, while Mohammad Zahid’s 11 wickets for 130 runs stand as the best bowling figures.
Top Performers
Saeed Anwar leads the run-scoring charts at Rawalpindi with 546 runs, while Waqar Younis has taken the most wickets at the venue with 23 scalps.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st Test: Betting Odds
According to Dafabet, Pakistan are the favorites to win the first Test match against Bangladesh.
| Team | Betting Odds |
| Pakistan | 1.11 |
| Bangladesh | 7.00 |