Pakistan unveils 12-man squad for 2nd Test against Bangladesh

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 12-man squad for the second Test match against Bangladesh, set to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan's cricket woes deepened on Sunday as Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test victory against the hosts, clinching the opening match of the two-game series with a commanding 10-wicket win.

Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim played a pivotal role for the visitors, scoring a remarkable 191 on the flat Rawalpindi pitch, which allowed Bangladesh to post their highest-ever total against Pakistan—565 runs—securing a vital 117-run lead in the first innings.

This loss marked Pakistan's second major defeat this year, following their surprising T20 loss to the USA. The result has cast doubt on Pakistan's standing in Test cricket, as they have now lost four out of their six matches in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Entering the match with a strong head-to-head record of 12 wins in 13 matches, Pakistan aimed to boost their chances of making it to next year's WTC final. However, their strategy to rely solely on a pace attack backfired, leaving them vulnerable to Bangladesh's spinners on the final day.

In response, the team has recalled leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for the second Test, after their decision to go without a frontline spinner in the first match proved costly.

Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3-44) were instrumental in dismantling the hosts, highlighting the absence of a strong spinner in Pakistan's lineup. Abrar, who has claimed 38 wickets in six Tests, has been added to the squad for the upcoming match.