Anand: How much of the weather going to impact on the outcome of the match. With Shaheen not in team has Pakistan missed the trick? 'Pakistan will have to make all the moves if they're to square the series, Bangladesh I think will be happy with a draw'

Qaswar Hassan: This series should have been played in Multan because it is the only venue where weather is clear nowadays

Ayushman: Do we still have the rule that if Day 1 is entirely washed out, effective lead to enforce follow-on is reduced to 150 runs? 'Yes, it still exists'

Vaibhav: Hows the weather looking for next 4 days? Scattered showers on Day 4 and plenty of rain on Day 5'

Jawad: Why is the match is being played in Rawalpindi when the weather is not good for the match? "This Test was shifted from Karachi since the stadium was under renovation for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Not sure how the weather looks in Karachi though'

ALVI ALADIN: Perhaps, an eccentric thing to ask: is it possible for Bangladesh to qualify for the final of World Test Championship by holding their nerves, winning all the remaining matches and not receiving any more demerit points? 'They need a lot of things going their way to even have a chance'

kamal: Can Pakistan still qualify and what are scenario to qualify from here to WTC final. it will be great to watch IND vs PAK WTC final? 'It looks very tough after the loss and the docking of points due to slow overrate'

09:51 Local Time, 04:51 GMT, 10:21 IST: No respite from the weather.

09:27 Local Time, 04:27 GMT, 09:57 IST: The rain is back now as well.

09:22 Local Time, 04:22 GMT, 09:52 IST: News coming in from Rawalpindi is that there has been quite a bit of rain in the morning.

When we play a game in Pakistan, discussion inadvertently has been about the pitches in recent times. They have created a bad rep amongst the world for making placid, lifeless pitches. Will today be any different with the series on the line? Stick around for the toss and team updates…

Pakistan however seem to be facing all the chaos on the field. They’ve had a wretched last couple of months - losing to USA in the T20 World Cup and now being humbled by ten wickets by Bangladesh. Shan Masood is yet to win a game as skipper, and his own batting form has dipped quite a bit since taking charge. So has the form of most of the top order batters, who were found flailing when the pitch started to take some turn on Day 5. Pakistan’s bowlers too seemed a bit rusty, as most of them were playing Test cricket for the first time in nearly a year, and the decision to go without a front line spinner raised the ire of many fans. They’d hope to now correct some of those mistakes and come back strong to avoid the ignominy of losing a home series to Bangladesh.

9 AM Local Time: Last week proved to be a real watershed moment in Bangladesh cricket as they truly upset the apple cart to defeat Pakistan in their own backyard in a game that was seeming like a dead draw for the most part of it. A historic Test win for the Bangla tigers and now they would have their eyes on a historic series win as the second match is about to get underway in Rawalpindi. Expect little tinkering from this Bangladeshi side as they’d still be rejoicing from the highs of last week, at a time when their nation is facing so much off the field chaos.

Preview

After a debacle in the series opener, Pakistan would be looking to salvage pride with a series-levelling win when they take on a high-flying Bangladesh in the second Test in Rawalpindi, starting Friday (August 30).

The 10-wicket loss came on the most batting-friendly conditions at home, after Pakistan had confidently declared in their first innings with close to 450 runs on the board. Having conceded a 117-run lead thereafter, Pakistan fumbled in the second innings to fold for just 146. While the frailties of the batting order were exposed in the embarrassing defeat, the tactical blunder to field an all-out pace attack cannot not be overlooked. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan ran through the order, sharing seven wickets between them, to set up the comfortable victory - Bangladesh's first against Pakistan and in Pakistan.

Consequently, the hosts have recalled a bunch of players it released after deciding on a pace-only attack for the first Test. Among them, legspinner Abrar Ahmed - who picked a four-fer in the practice game against Bangladesh A - should be a straightforward inclusion in the playing XI as Pakistan look to make amends. Pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, who left for the birth of his child, has has been left out of the XI.

Despite having written history, following a proven mantra, Bangladesh would be wary of not getting over-confident in their bid to double the celebration. More so because a hurt Pakistan would leave no stone unturned in order to get even.

When: Starts Friday, August 30, at 10 AM Local | 10:30 AM IST

Where:Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

What to expect: It's likely to be a wet start to the Test match with overnight rain forecast to continue until Friday noon. The pitch at the Pindi stadium eased out for batting as the game progressed, and even aided the slower bowlers in the series opener.

Team News

Pakistan

Initially ruled out of the series due to an injury, Aamir Jamal is among the players returned to the set-up ahead of the second Test. However, his availability is subject to fitness clearance. The hosts would be keen on giving leggie Abrar Ahmed a go. Meanwhile, the hosts have also left out Shaheen Afridi in what is arguably the biggest news coming in from their camp.

Probable XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Mir Hamza, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad/Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed

Bangladesh

After a historic win, Bangladesh will have little reason to tamper the winning combination.

Probable XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Squads:

Bangladesh Squad: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 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, Mir Hamza, Kamran Ghulam, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Huraira, Aamer Jamal