Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan begins wicketkeeping drills ahead of the second Test match against Bangladesh. Sarfaraz Ahmed assists him in preparation for upcoming clash.
Pakistan's newly appointed Test head coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed, was seen assisting wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan during an intense training session at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on May 14, 2026. The session aimed to help Rizwan address the mistakes and struggles he faced in the previous Test match against Bangladesh.
Rizwan's performance in the first Test was below par as he struggled with both batting and wicketkeeping. He scored runs but also made errors behind the stumps, conceding extra runs, dropping catches, and missing stumping opportunities. These oversights provided additional chances to Bangladeshi batters throughout the match.
Apart from Rizwan, other Pakistan players were engaged in various drills including catching practice and batting sessions to rectify their mistakes and strengthen areas of weakness. The team's focus was on improving as they prepare for the upcoming second Test against Bangladesh scheduled to take place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.
Meanwhile, hosts Bangladesh achieved a significant victory in their first Test match by defeating Pakistan by 104 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. In the first innings, Bangladesh posted 413 with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring an unbeaten century and Mominul Haque contributing with a half-century. The Pakistani team's reply was led by debutant Abdullah Fazal and experienced all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.
However, Bangladesh's victory came at the cost of losing their wickets in a dramatic collapse. Pakistan lost six wickets for 44 runs in just 21 overs, eventually being bowled out for 163. In contrast, Bangladesh reached 119/3 with Abdullah Fazal and Salman Ali Agha at the crease before the latter's dismissal triggered their downfall.
In terms of rankings, Bangladesh has climbed to sixth position in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table after winning one match, drawing another, and losing one. They have collected 16 points with a win percentage of 44.44 overall. On the other hand, Pakistan slipped to seventh place following their record of one win, two losses, and one draw from three matches. The team has earned 12 points with a win percentage of 33.33.
As Rizwan continues his wicketkeeping practice under Sarfaraz Ahmed's guidance, the Pakistani selectors will closely monitor his progress to ensure he is ready for the challenges ahead in the second Test match against Bangladesh.
