Shan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad, who last played for Pakistan in the World T20 in India, and Iftikhar Ahmed, who made his Test debut at the Oval in August, gave a good account of themselves against the pink ball by making fifities in the warm-up match between Pakistan Cricket Board Patron’s XI and West Indians in Sharjah. The first Test between Pakistan and West Indies, also Pakistan’s 400th, will be played with the pink ball, starting October 13 in Dubai.
One of Pakistan’s regular openers, Mohammad Hafeez, who pulled out midway through the England tour because of injury and later missed the limited-overs series against West Indies in the UAE, however, fell for a seven-ball duck. Legspinner Devendra Bishoo, meanwhile, impressed for West Indians, taking 3 for 77.
Having opted to bat, PCB Patron’s XI lost Hafeez in the third over to fast bowler Miguel Cummins before Masood and Shehzad ground out 100 runs for the second wicket. The stand ended when Bishoo had Shehzad caught by Darren Bravo for 52 in the 47th over. Masood reached 58 off 191 balls before he was run-out by Carlos Brathwaite. PCB Patrons’ XI seemed to have regained control through Ifthikar, who chalked up his 10th first-class fifty. He struck six fours and two sixes during his 63. Bishoo, however, removed both Ifthikar and captain Fawad Alam in the 81st over to loosen PCB Patron’s XI’s grip. Asif Zakir and wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal then closed the day at 241 for 5.
The spinners – Bishoo, Roston Chase, and Kraigg Brathwaite – did the bulk of the work for West Indians on the first day, bowling 58 of 90 overs.
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