Pakistan cricket team has once again handed the leadership reins to Babar Azam, but his return to the captaincy role has not translated into runs with the bat yet. During the opening match of the ongoing Test series against West Indies, the captain failed to convert his start into a substantial score and was dismissed cheaply. Meanwhile, former captain Shan Masood displayed exemplary composure and technique at the crease, remaining unbeaten with a stellar knock. Two full days of play have already concluded in this intriguing encounter.
Solid Partnership Between Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood
The Pakistan cricket team is currently touring West Indies for a two-match Test series. The first game of this series is being hosted at Port of Spain. Batting first after winning the toss or taking the crease, West Indies put up a formidable total of 311 runs in their first innings. For the home side, captain Kraigg Brathwaite or rather captain Shai Hope led the charge by scoring 92 runs, though he unfortunately fell just eight runs short of a well-deserved century. When Pakistan began their reply, the innings suffered an early setback as opener Saim Ayub or rather Azaan Awais departed without troubling the scorers, returning to the pavilion for a duck. Following this dismissal, Imam-ul-Haq and former captain Shan Masood steadied the ship with a very productive partnership. Imam-ul-Haq contributed significantly with a gritty knock of 63 runs.
Captain Babar Azam Falls After Scoring Only 23 Runs
Pakistan captain Babar Azam walked out to bat at number four, but he failed to play a defining innings and was sent packing after making just 23 runs. Babar Azam has been reinstated as the Test captain recently, but his comeback as leader saw his bat remain silent. On the other hand, the former captain batted with great resilience to accumulate 88 runs. He remained unbeaten at the crease when stumps were drawn on the second day. Accompanying him at the other end is Salman Ali Agha, who has yet to get off the mark. By the end of day two, Pakistan's scoreboard read 199 runs for the loss of three wickets. This leaves the visiting Pakistan side still trailing West Indies by a margin of 112 runs.
Match Being Played Under World Test Championship Cycle
This two-match Test series is being contested under the World Test Championship or WTC framework. Looking at the current standings in the points table, the Pakistan team is positioned right at the bottom. Meanwhile, the West Indies team sits one spot ahead of them in the rankings. Consequently, this matchup features the two lowest-ranked sides in the championship table going head-to-head. Judging by the current pace and nature of the match, it appears well on course to last the full duration of five days. It remains to be seen how both teams perform in the remaining sessions of the match.
