11:12 Local Time, 06:12 GMT, 11:42 IST: "Lunch to take place at 12:00 local. Umpires to inspect the ground again at 12:00 local," - tweet Pakistan Cricket Live. Meaning we have lost the first session of play.

11:00 Local Time, 06:00 GMT, 11:30 IST: Inspection time and the umpires are out in the middle.

Pitch Report: "There will be plenty of moisture to work with. There might be some help for the spinners as well. Generally the fast bowlers will have help because of all the moisture in the first session and you don't want to waste the new ball," says Bazid Khan.

10:10 Local Time, 05:10 GMT, 10:40 IST: The inspection was conducted and there's another scheduled for 11:00 local. It rained through the night and hence the outfield has taken a beating. But the sun is out and the super soppers are working away. Hopefully we have good news after the next inspection.

09:30 Local Time, 04:30 GMT, 10:00 IST: The toss has been delayed.

Shan Masood continues to lead the Test side even after a 3-0 whitewash in Australia but they do have a new coach and it is Jason Gillespie. It will be the Australian's first series and going by the playing XI, that was announced a couple of days ago, it has his imprint as Pakistan are going in with an all out pace attack. Meanwhile, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka at home and it was their batting that let them down. The onus is again on the experienced pair of Shakib and Rahim to carry the batting line-up. They do have a good group of pace bowlers and it will be interesting to see what combination they go in with for this game. Toss and teams coming up..

09:00 Local Time, 04:00 GMT, 09:30 IST: Pakistan kick-start their home sojourn with a two Test series against Bangladesh and follow it up with three Tests versus England. These five games are very important if they are to challenge for a top two spot in the World Test Championship points table. This is their first assignment since the T20 World Cup and their first Test since playing the New Year's Test at Sydney back in January. Will there be some rustiness? Bangladesh come into this series with a lot of unrest and turmoil back home. They arrived early and also played a practice game. But the question will be how are they prepared mentally? They too haven't played since the end of June and their last Test was in March. Both these teams are trying to find some consistency in this format and make their way up the WTC ladder.

Preview:

In their six-series bilateral history in Test cricket, beginning 2001, Bangladesh have not registered a single win against Pakistan. A head-to-head record of 12-0 [one draw] in favour of Pakistan does not augment well for the visitors either. But, cricket is a funny game, as they say, and Bangladesh will have come to the shores of Pakistan to prove a point not just to the world but to themselves - that they belong at this level.

Bangladesh were heavily defeated in their last series against Sri Lanka in March this year. But a series draw to New Zealand last winter, should provide them with confidence heading against an unpredictable Pakistan side. Civil unrest and turmoil having engulfed the country over the last month has seen many Bangladesh Cricket Board officials flee the country. Quality Test cricket might provide the general public some respite and maybe even a smile, even if it is a faint one.

The hosts meanwhile, haven't played a Test match for the best part of this year. Their last Test series was the 3-0 drubbing away, at the hands of Australia. A new head coach and fresh ideas should rejuvenate a team which has flattered to deceive most times on the field. Naseem Shah's comeback into the squad is a major boost after his injury while batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique will look to cement their place in the Test lineup for the foreseeable future.

When: August 21 to 25, 2024; 10am Local Time (5am GMT, 10:30am IST)

Where: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

What to expect: The last two Tests played here in 2022 saw very flat and sluggish surfaces. The tracks offered nothing for the bowlers and were heavily criticised. There is some rain forecast in the wee hours on most mornings of the scheduled five-day game.

Team news

Pakistan

The hosts have opted for an all out pace attack for the first Test match.

Possible XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammed Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mir Hamza

Bangladesh

Shakib al Hasan has declared his availability for all of Bangladesh's Test matches this year but Mahmudal Hasan has been ruled out with a groin injury.

Possible XI: Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Syed Khaled Ahmed

What they said:

"The Pindi pitch looks more favorable for fast bowling and batting. They also didn't pick any spinners. Lately, we have developed a lot of good fast bowlers in our rank as well. If the condition favours, they will do well." - Bangladesh Head Coach, Chandika Hathurusingha.

"You don't forget the wickets that you get in Test cricket. You remember them for your whole life, because you have earned them with your hard work. It is only you who know how consistent you have been to get those wickets." - Naseem Shah on the joy of picking up wickets in the Test format.

Squads:

Bangladesh Squad: Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam

Pakistan Squad: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Kamran Ghulam, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Huraira