Bangladesh dominates early in Rawalpindi test

The Bangladesh bowlers made a strong statement in the opening overs of the Rawalpindi Test, validating captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto's decision to bowl first on the damp pitch. 

Their early dominance, coupled with Pakistan's struggles against the swinging ball, set the tone for the match.

Hasan Mahmud, the Tigers' pace spearhead, struck in the fourth over, dismissing Zakir Hasan for just 2 runs. 

The dismissal of Hasan, a promising young opener, put immediate pressure on the Pakistan batting lineup.

Shoriful Islam, another talented pacer, then claimed two quick wickets, removing Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Shan Masood. 

Babar, one of the world's best batsmen, was caught behind by Liton Das, while Masood fell victim to a well-directed delivery from Shariful.

At the end of nine overs, Pakistan was struggling at 23 runs for 3 wickets. 

Saim Ayub was on 11, and Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 0. The early wickets put Pakistan in a precarious position, and they would need to rebuild their innings carefully to avoid further setbacks.

The first day of the Test was reduced to 48 overs due to rain, which delayed the start of play. However, the playing time was extended by half an hour to compensate for the lost overs. 

Despite the rain, the match was able to proceed, providing some much-needed cricket action for the fans.

The weather forecast had predicted rain for the first Test days (August 21-25), and unfortunately, the rain did arrive on the opening day. While today's play was possible, there are concerns about the weather for the second day of the match. 

If rain continues to disrupt play, it could significantly impact the outcome of the Test.