Shan Masood explains why there is no spinner in the XI

Pakistan announced the XI for the Rawalpindi Test against Bangladesh almost 40 hours before the start of the match. The Shan Masood-led team has four pacers, six batsmen and one batting all-rounder.

The team does not have a specialist spinner. It is understood that Pakistan wants to beat Bangladesh only with pace. Pakistan captain Shan Masood explained why such a plan in a press conference a day before the start of the test.
Masood said in the press conference, "Whenever I have played domestic cricket, the conditions in Rawalpindi have helped the pacers and batsmen. Spin bowling is not a threat in that sense. I want to proceed keeping in mind the way domestic cricket is going. Don't want to do anything new, facilities that are not usually available in Rawalpindi.'

Masud may have said this with statistics in mind. Pacers and batsmen always get extra advantage here in Tests too. Pacers have taken 77 wickets in the last 5 Tests in Rawalpindi. Gave 35 runs per wicket, 3.18 per over. And the spinners have taken 46 wickets in 5 Tests. 55.67 runs to take a wicket. The fact that pacers get more advantage in Rawalpindi than spinners is evident in these statistics. The batsmen here average around 42 in the last 5 Tests.

Bangladeshi batsmen also have a chance in Rawalpindi
Four pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali will handle Pakistan's bowling attack in Rawalpindi. In response to the question why Muhammad Ali was not included in Mir Hamza's XI, Masood said, "We have considered who can help Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah more. We hope he will bowl with the new ball tomorrow as well." We believe Muhammad Ali will be good for this role. He bowls hard on the wicket, can swing in the air both ways with the seam. There is also extra speed. It is not that someone is better than another, but what is important here is who is more suited to the condition.'

The first match of Bangladesh-Pakistan two test series will start on Wednesday at 11:30 am Bangladesh time.