Watch: Mohammad Rizwan throws bat at Babar Azam after swashbuckling knock

Mohammad Rizwan. (Source – Pakistan Cricket)

Pakistan took on Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi. After being put to bat first, the hosts were reeling at 16 for three. Mohammed Rizwan and Saud Shakeel put up a fighting partnership of 240 runs for the fifth wicket. After Shakeel departed for 141 off 261, Rizwan stayed unbeaten on 171 off 239 before Shan Masood declared the innings at 448 runs with 12 overs of play remaining.

As Rizwan walked back to the pavilion, he was received by his white-ball opening partner Babar Azam at the boundary line. As the wicket-keeper crossed the boundary rope, he threw his bat towards Babar and the former Pakistan Test skipper caught the bat followed by a jovial retreat. However, Babar’s return to red-ball cricket was underwhelming, as the right-handed batter registered a two-ball duck.

Here’s the video of Rizwan-Babar camaraderie: 

The pitch has a lot of grass so yeah it will be quite challenging: Masood

Speaking of Bangladesh’s innings, the opening pair of Sadman Islam and Zakir Hasan braved the 12 overs in the final session of Day 2. They entered the subsequent day with a hefty deficit to overcome. Hasan departed early but Islam scored an impressive 93 off 183. The other notable contribution came from Mominul Haque, who scored 50 off just 76 balls. After 85 overs of play, the visitors were five down for 273 runs and Masood’s prediction of pitch slowing down proved to be true.

Also Read: Saud Shakeel surpasses Steve Smith, just below Donald Bradman in batting average charts after Rawalpindi ton

“We were going to bowl first as well, we have never played in Pindi in August before. The pitch has a lot of grass so yeah it will be quite challenging. It has rained as well, but if we bat well, towards the end of the game with the cracks, it will be tough to bat,” said Masood at the toss.