PAK vs BAN Live Score: UPDATE
Heavy rain delayed the toss and threatened a washout of the opening day of the second cricket Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Both teams were still in their hotel and umpires were to inspect the ground only after the rain stopped, with the met office forecasting intermittent monsoon rain.
It was a bad omen for a Pakistan team desperate to square the two-match series after Bangladesh won the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, on Sunday.
Bangladesh's 10-wicket victory was their first in 14 Tests against Pakistan.
Pakistan have left out pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi from their 12-member squad, allowing him time to spend with his newly born son.
PAK vs BAN Live Score: UPDATE
Weather update on the opening day of second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh:
Mostly cloudy and humid with a heavy thunderstorm
PAK vs BAN Live Score: UPDATE
The relentless rain persists, forcing the covers to remain securely fastened.
The heavens above appear dreary and dismal, offering no relief from the ongoing downpour.
Brace yourselves, everyone, as this may prove to be an extended and challenging day!
PAK vs BAN Live Score: UPDATE
The weather has taken a turn for the worse, with the rain returning in full force.
At the moment, it's coming down quite intensely, which will likely result in a considerable postponement to the start of the day's activities.
Unfortunately, the outlook for the remainder of the day is not promising either, as intermittent rainfall is anticipated to persist.
PAK vs BAN Live Score: UPDATE
Toss delayed due to rain in Rawalpindi
PAK vs BAN Live Score: Pakistan were rattled
Pakistan were rattled by the Bangladesh response to their first-innings total of 448-6, crumbling for a paltry 146 in their second outing.
A brilliant 191 by veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim on a flat Rawalpindi pitch helped the visitors rack up their highest-ever total against Pakistan of 565 to take a crucial 117-run first-innings lead.
Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-21) and Shakib Al Hasan (3-44) then rocked the hosts and made them rue not playing a frontline spinner.
But Hathurusinghe said the second game would be a big challenge.
"They are a very strong team and we expect a very good fight in the second Test as well but we will not be different from the first game and know our strength as well as that of Pakistan's."
PAK vs BAN Live Score: Hathurusinghe confident
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe was confident his side could recreate their heroics from the first Test.
"The morale of the players is very, very good," said former Sri Lankan batsmen Hathurusinghe.
"Obviously beating Pakistan in Pakistan is not an easy task."
PAK vs BAN Live Score: Abrar Ahmed in Pak squad
The home team have recalled spinner Abrar Ahmed after going with an all-pace attack in the first Test.
Former Australian pacer Gillespie admitted it will be a challenge to square the series.
"We want to go out there and play positive," said Gillespie, who is in his first series with Pakistan. "It's about scoring lots of singles and with our bowling we want to be ruthless and challenging the opposition batters."
But he backed under-pressure skipper Shan Masood who failed with the bat with six and 14 in the first match, and has lost all four of his Tests as captain.
"Shan is a very positive captain," said Gillespie.
"He wants to play and win games .... we showed that with our intent in the first game but it didn't quite work out and that's credit to our opposition.
"That game is gone, but what we can do is focus on the game starting tomorrow.
PAK vs BAN Live Score: Bangladesh eye Test-series victory over Pakistan
Bangladesh are hoping to secure a first Test-series victory over Pakistan, who have left out star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the second match starting in Rawalpindi on Friday.
The visitors upset a normally formidable home team with a clinical ten-wicket display in the first Test -- Bangladesh's first win in over 14 encounters against Pakistan.
But the hosts have been struggling through a lean spell of late, bowing out early in this year's T20 World Cup. Their last Test series was a whitewash in a three-match tour to Australia.
Star pacer Afridi struggled to find his rhythm through much of the innings, with Pakistan's head coach Jason Gillespie saying he will be rested to allow him to spend time with his new-born son and family.
Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh.