Captain Shan Masood says continuity was Pakistan's aim when selecting their side to face Bangladesh in the first of two Tests, with Saim Ayub picked as an opener over Muhammad Hurraira.

Hurraira was expected to get a chance when the two-match series gets under way in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, having impressed on the domestic stage for Islamabad United.

He scored 218 against a Bangladesh High Performance XI in a four-day match last month, also receiving his first international call-up for a tour of Sri Lanka.

He was not selected for his red-ball debut during that series, however, and he has also been overlooked for this week's first meeting with Bangladesh, despite Imam-ul-Haq being rested.

"We have plenty of riches in our opening batting," Masood said ahead of the Test. "Imam-ul-Haq isn't here for this series. 

"We don't limit ourselves to 17 players. We have 20 to 25 players who are part of our squad. 

"We initially felt that it was our ideal chance to check Muhammad Hurraira and see what he could offer the Pakistan team after doing so well in domestic cricket in the last three or four years. 

"We rested Imam in this series. Saim, who is in good touch now, showed potential in the second innings against Australia. 

"As a team, you have to send a message of continuity. So we will try to back the players. We want to give him a fair chance."

Masood also said the expected conditions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium had influenced the decision to select Mohammad Ali to lead the bowling attack.

"You have to look at a few factors," Masood said. "You have to take into account Pakistan's position in the WTC. 

"We at least have to win the home matches. Secondly, you have to look at the ground conditions. Thirdly, we have to look at our team combination.

"I think Mohammad Ali gave us the surprise element, we have been seeing it for a long time."

A whirlwind 121 from South African Rilee Rossouw and a rapid 52 from former West Indies white ball Captain Kieron Pollard helped the Multan Sultans chase down a mammoth target of 243 to defeat Peshawar Zalmi in their Pakistan Super League fixture at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Zalmi posted 242-6 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.

Captain Babar Azam followed up a hundred in their last game with a top score of 73 while fellow opener, Saim Ayub made 58. Azam’s knock lasted 39 deliveries and included nine fours and two sixes while Ayub faced 33 balls and hit five fours and four sixes.

Englishman Tom Kohler-Cadmore also contributed an 18-ball 38. Medium pacer Abbas Afridi took 4-39 off his four overs for the Sultans.

Then, with a mountain to climb after losing openers Shan Masood (5) and Momammad Rizwan (7) early, Rossouw and Pollard put together what ended up being a match-winning 99-run third-wicket partnership.

Pollard made a 25-ball 52, hitting three fours and five sixes in the process but it was Rossouw who was the star of the show.

The South African’s 121 came off just 51 balls and included 12 fours and eight sixes as he was the last Sultans wicket to fall , going in the 19^th over with the score on 227. He brought up his hundred off 41 balls, making it the fastest hundred in PSL history, bettering his own record of 43 balls set against the Quetta Gladiators in 2020.

In the end, cameos from Anwar Ali (24*) and Usama Mir (11*) led Multan over the line. The Sultans are the third team to book a spot in the playoffs after the Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.

Scores: Peshawar Zalmi 242-4 off 20 overs (Babar Azam 73, Saim Ayub 58, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 38, Mohammad Haris 35, Abbas Afridi 4-39) Multan Sultans 244-6 off 19.1 overs (Rilee Rossouw 121, Kieron Pollard 52, Anwar Ali 24*, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-62).