Rizwan and Shakeel centuries give Pakistan control of first test against Bangladesh

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Saud Shakeel smashed centuries as Pakistan piled up 448-6 declared to put the hosts in control of the first test against Bangladesh on Thursday.

Rizwan hit a career-best 171 not out off 239 balls and left-hander Shakeel continued his imperious form in red-ball cricket with 141 runs off 261 before Pakistan declared late on the second day.

Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan negotiated the last hour against the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah as they took the visitors to a cautious 27-0 at stumps after 12 overs, still trailing by 421 runs. Shadman was unbeaten on 12 while Zakir was 11 not out.

Earlier, Bangladesh pace bowlers toiled hard on a greenish wicket which eased for batting under sunshine and saw both Rizwan and Shakeel combining in a five-hour, fifth-wicket stand of 240 runs which took the hosts from 114-4 to 354-5.

Both batters kept Bangladesh's pace and spin at bay for almost two sessions after Pakistan had resumed its first innings on 158-4. They added 98 runs in the first session before both raised their centuries soon after lunch in another dominant session which produced 111 runs.

“Early on, the ball was doing a lot, but then they started to bowl short of length which helped us to build a strong partnership,” said Shakeel, who became the joint-fastest Pakistan batter with Saeed Ahmed to complete 1,000 test runs in 20 innings.

“Honestly I didn’t know about the record, because for me milestones do not matter and I always look for a Pakistan win.”

Bangladesh had its moments after lunch to get the breakthrough but Rizwan survived two close caught behind attempts by Litton Das against the spinners before he raised his third test century off 143 balls, and second at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, by driving left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (1-100) to wide mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shakeel completed his third test hundred by driving off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-80) for two runs in the covers and proved a perfect foil to Rizwan, who hit 11 boundaries and three sixes in his unbeaten knock.

The fast bowlers couldn’t extract the movement that saw Pakistan slipping to 16-3 on the first day, which was curtailed to 41 overs due to wet patches in the outfield. Shoriful Islam (2-77) and Hasan Mahmud (2-70) didn’t get a wicket on the second day and the third seamer, Nahid Rana, returned with unimpressive figures of 0-105 off 19 overs.

Bangladesh struck late in the second session when Shakeel, who survived a close run-out, was stumped against spinner Mehidy's sharp turning delivery. Shakeel, who got his first boundary of the second day after completing his century, hit nine fours before he was undone by Mehidy’s brilliant ball.

Shakib had to wait until his 25th over when he had Salman Ali Agha (19) caught at point before Shaheen Shah Afridi made a quickfire 29 not out off 24 and Pakistan declared its first innings on a commanding note.

“(The wicket) looks pretty good for batting and I hope it continues to be like that,” Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp said. “Our batters need to be as positive as Pakistan were."

Rawalpindi will also host the second and final test.

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Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan celebrates after scoring century during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Bangladesh's Litton Das, second right, celebrates with teammates after stump out to Pakistan Saud Shakeel during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel celebrates after scoring century during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan prays after scoring century during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel, right, and Mohammad Rizwan walk off the field on the lunch break during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, right, and Saud Shakeel run between the wickets during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, right, and Saud Shakeel run between the wickets during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, left, and Saud Shakeel run between the wickets during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the second day of first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé's departure was expected to sidetrack Paris Saint-Germain this season.

How would a team long viewed as over-reliant on the France superstar cope without him after his move to Real Madrid?

Who could score so freely for PSG when Mbappé averaged more than 40 goals per season over the past four campaigns and more than 250 in seven years at the club? And who would bail the team out of trouble with last-gasp winners?

Things have turned out rather well, so far, and the widely anticipated post-Mbappé headache has not materialised.

Far from it.

PSG is the only team to have won its first three games in the French league and has scored an impressive 13 goals.

No longer being so reliant on Mbappé seems to have produced an early side effect, whereby the goals are being shared around and teamwork has improved in coach Luis Enrique's side.

Bradley Barcola has led the way with four goals, adding a finishing touch to his skilful dribbling down the left, while his France teammate Randal Kolo Muani and South Korea forward Lee Kang-in have netted twice each.

France right winger Ousmane Dembélé has chipped in with a goal and two assists for the defending champion, while new signing João Neves leads the league with three assists.

Kolo Muani and Dembélé continued their form with France, each scoring on Monday in a 2-0 win against Belgium in the Nations League.

Behind the forwards, Portugal's Vitinha and France's Warren Zaïre-Emery form a solid midfield pairing along with the 19-year-old Neves, an offseason signing from Portuguese side Benfica.

For now, it seems like Mbappé's absence is being felt more keenly off the field than on it.

On Wednesday, he rejected a mediation offer by the French soccer league’s legal commission in his dispute with PSG over wages and bonuses.

PSG officials and Mbappé’s representatives met in Paris after Mbappé asked the commission to get involved. Mbappé, who joined Madrid on a free transfer, says the club owes him 55 million euros ($60 million). PSG said it was pleased with how the commission hearing went.

While PSG's power struggle with its ex-striker continues, PSG's current crop of forwards look for more goals when the team hosts Brest on Saturday before facing Spanish side Girona on Wednesday when the Champions League starts.

Mbappé is expected to make his European debut for Madrid the previous night, at home to Stuttgart.

He never won Europe's most prestigious club prize with PSG, but most observers would argue he has a far better chance of doing so with record 15-time champion Madrid.

At some point this season, their paths may cross again on the field.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Ousmane Dembele takes a shot during the French League 1 soccer match between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)

PSG's Randal Kolo Muani celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League 1 soccer match between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele runs with the ball watched by Lille's Thomas Meunier, left, during the French League 1 soccer match between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)

France's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Belgium at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)