Kingstown, July 10: Persistent showers restricted Bangladesh and a new-look West Indies to just over an hour’s play on the first day of the first cricket Test at Arnos Vale on Thursday.
Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes gave Bangladesh a solid platform with an unbroken stand of 42 in between the showers.
Imrul struck three fours in an unbeaten 26 while fellow left-hander Tamim hit one boundary in 14 not out.
The morning session was lost to the weather and play began only after lunch after new Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and chose to bat.
West Indies, forced to choose a replacement squad after the original 13-man squad chose to boycott the series due to contract wrangles with the West Indies Cricket Board, provided seven players with their first test caps.
Batsmen Dale Richards, Omar Phillips and Travis Dowlin, wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, fast bowler Kemar Roach and spinners Ryan Austin and Nikita Miller made their debuts.
Only captain Floyd Reifer, fast bowler Tino Best and allrounders Darren Sammy and Dave Bernard Jr. had previously appeared in Tests.
Reifer, two weeks short of his 37th birthday, played the last of his four Tests in January 1999, and said he was proud to be captain.
–Agencies