Bangladesh scored 93 runs losing three wickets at lunch on the first day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto rescued Bangladesh from a disastrous start as both openers went back to the pavilion cheaply. However, Mominul was caught by wicketkeeper Rizwan off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi after scoring 30 runs.

Najmul (44) and Mahmudullah (17) were on the crease at the break.

For Pakistan, Afridi got two wickets and Muhammad Abbas trapped opener Tamim Iqbal in front of the wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat. Pakistan opted for the same team that won the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi in December last year, playing with three fast bowlers and a lone spinner in Yasir Shah.

Bangladesh handed a Test debut to 21-year-old opener Saif Hassan and also included three pacers as well as a spinner in Taijul Islam.

After this Test, Bangladesh will head home and return for a one-day international (April 3) and second Test (April 5-9) -- both in Karachi.

Teams: Pakistan: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Yasir Shah 

Bangladesh: Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed, Rubel Hossain

Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Chris Gaffney (NZL) TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA) . Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)

"Credit to the two Boards for making this series possible," Azhar told reporters. "Would have been good if the series was not split but we are focused as this is a World Test Championship match."

Pakistan are currently fourth in the championship, which features the top nine Test nations and is currently led by world number one India (360 points) followed by Australia (296) and England (146).

The top two teams will play the final in June 2021.

"Hosting matches in Pakistan will send a strong message that we are a safe country," said Azhar.