✤Welcome to the live coverage of the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies being played at the Multan Cricket Ground in Multan.
🌳Catch the highlights from Day 1 of the first Test in the two-match series between Pakistan and West Indies. After a day full of interruptions, stumps were called due to bad light with Pakistan posting 143/4 (41.3), get updates right here
✤Welcome to the live coverage of the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies being played at the Multan Cricket Ground in Multan.
🌠There are a few changes expected on both sides with West Indies vice-captain Joshua Da Silva left out of poor form, while Muhammad Hurraira is set for a debut, replacing the injured Saim Ayub.
ওThe toss has been officially delayed due to foggy weather, and there will be an inspection at 9:30 AM local time.
Pakistan💦 Squad: Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Rohail Nazir, Muhammad Hurraira, Kashif Ali
West Indies🍸 Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva(w), Anderson Phillip, Kevin Sinclair, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo
Still no news from the Multan Cricket 👍Stadium yet. The inspection was scheduled at 9:30 AM local time, and it has been over 10 minutes. We should, however, have news soon.
꧋And we have the official word. Not very promising though. The ground conditions remain the same and the match officials will once again inspect if and when they improve.
🃏The live streaming of the first Test between Pakistan and West Indies will be available on the FanCode app and website.
𓃲The weather does not have seemed to get better around the Multan Cricket Ground, and so the waiting game will continue. The players are still in their trainers.
ꩵThe surface at the Multan Cricket Ground is expected to be super spin-friendly after being subjected to a greenhouse arrangement with heaters, fans and a big canopy. Both Pakistan and West Indies are expected to play with two spinners.
🅰There's not much news yet. There is more hope than promise with respect to the toss and play getting underway soon at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Day 1.
ꦍLunch has been called on Day 1 without any play. However, the covers are being removed and we should get play soon. For now, the wait continues.
🌳We finally have official updates. The toss is set to take place at 1:00 PM local time and play will get underway from 1:30 PM.
💦Muhammad Hurraira is all set for his Test debut, and he's a glimpse.
𝕴Pakistan bat first at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
West Indiesﷺ (Playing XI): Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach(w), Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales
Pakistan𒈔 (Playing XI): Shan Masood(c), Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed
Brathwaite:🌺 Being brave is important, especially as batters. Need to be disciplined with the ball. Lot of dot balls at these guys during the game.
Masood:🥂 Going to have a bat first keeping conditions in mind. We have to look at our home conditions and think of ways we can become a difficult side to beat at home. We would like to have a strong hold in certain set of conditions. Always exciting to take the first ball for Pakistan. We've got the young Hurraira making his debut. We're all backing him. Want to replicate performances from England.
🐽The hosts have started off well, navigated the early swing and seam movement. After 5 overs, Pakistan are 14/0.
Debutant Muhammad Hurraira (6) was dismissed early on as West Indies made in-roads on day 1 of the 1st Test against Pakistan at Multan. Earlier, Shan Masood had won the toss and opted to bat first.
Score after 8 overs
PAK 20/1
Pakistan in all sorts of trouble after opting to bat first in Multan as they have now lost three wickets for 31 runs. Hurraira, Shan Masood, and Kamran Ghulam have all walked back for single digits. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel are out there in the middle, eyeing a rebuild.
🐻The tourists have bettered a good start into a great one as they now have Pakistan on the brink. West Indies have also sent back Babar Azam and are just a few wickets away from opening up the tail.
🦂After losing four wickets, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan are slowly starting to stitch a partnership. However, they are a long way from safety. For West Indies, Jayden Seales has been exceptional with the ball.
🍸And that's Tea on Day 1 in Multan. West Indies will be the happier side having picked up four crucial wickets. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel have calmed a bit of nerves in the dressing room as Pakistan will pin their hopes on this partnership.
﷽Pakistan are now ticking along pretty well as Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel approach their fiftes. This has been a fantastic rebuild after losing four wickets for just 31 runs. On the other hand, West Indies have been a little desperate with their field, looking for wickets.
🎶Warrican delivered a fuller ball on off stump, which Saud Shakeel defended solidly back down the pitch. The next delivery was a length ball angled in from outside off, and Shakeel attempted to work it away but missed, with the ball striking his pad. It seemed to be heading down the leg side.
🐟Play stopped due to bad light as Rizwan and Shakeel, with contrasting yet gritty half-centuries, remained unbeaten with their partnership on 97. Only 41.4 overs were bowled during the day, which began late due to fog delaying the toss until after lunch and play starting at 1:30 PM. A resumption seems unlikely.
😼Stumps has been called after a day dominated by interruptions, with over 48 overs lost due to a foggy morning delaying the start until the second session. Pakistan, opting to bat on a spin-friendly pitch, were in trouble early as Jayden Seales dismantled the top order with a fiery three-wicket spell, leaving them at 46/4.
ꦜHowever, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel staged a remarkable recovery, putting together an unbeaten 97-run stand for the fifth wicket.
ไTheir aggressive use of the sweep and confident stroke play turned the pressure back on the bowlers, especially during a boundary-laden final session. Despite slowing things down later, West Indies failed to break the partnership before bad light ended play.
꧒That's a wrap for this match! We'll be back with another live blog. Until then, goodbye.