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Following the culmination of the 11th season of HBL PSL, Pakistan now travel to Bangladesh and will don the white jersey for a two-match Test series, with the 1st Test in Mirpur tomorrow.
Pakistan currently sit at 5th in the ICC World Test Championship ranking, after the 1-1 series draw against South Africa in October. Whereas Bangladesh are yet to get off the mark after 2 matches, losing 1 and drawing 1 against Sri Lanka in June 2025.
Pakistan Preview for the 1st Test in Mirpur
After a successful PSL season with the bat, Shan Masood will captain the side, which has four new faces in the squad, namely: Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Amad Butt. Now, for those following Pakistan cricket for a long time, Amad Butt is not a new name. Perhaps a call-up to the national side was a long-time coming; the all-rounder would be eager to make the most of every opportunity handed to him.
The 30-year-old boasts a formidable first-class record with 205 wickets in 64 matches at an average of 25.55 (9 fifers and 2 ten-wicket hauls) and over 2,000 runs at an average of 23.48. Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal and Ghazi Ghori have experience of 33, 25 and 26 matches and average 40+ with the bat. Awais, however, holds a stronger record. Averaging 48.60, with 10 centuries to his name, it will not be a surprise if the southpaw is handed a debut for the 1st Test in Mirpur.
Regular faces in the Test side, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, retain their places in the squad.
1st Test match will begin on 8th May at Dhaka, while the 2nd Test will be played at Sylhet on 16th of May 2026.
Players to Watch out for
All eyes will be set on Babar Azam, however, who is fresh off a winning PSL campaign where he was the highest run-scorer and named in the best batter. It will be interesting to see how Pakistan’s favourite son fares in a format where he has had a lean record in the past few years. Mohammad Abbas returns to the Test arena, having last donned the white jersey against South Africa in January 2025, where he reached 100 Test scalps in 27 matches.
With his ability to bowl long spells, expect him to slot right into the side, alongside Shaheen Afridi or Hasan Ali. This series will also be the first for Pakistan’s new Test coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed. The former Champions Trophy-winning captain will hope to kickstart his stint as coach with a series win.
Bangladesh Preview for the 1st Test in Mirpur
The home side returns to Test colours after almost a year, having last played against Sri Lanka in a two-match series. Bangladesh are yet to register a win in this edition of the World Test Championship.
Regardless of their reputation, the Tigers have been a team to watch out for in home tests in the past, and this time is expected to be no different.
Under the captaincy of Najmul Hossain Shanto, they clean-swept Pakistan in Rawalpindi, but head coach Phil Simmons wants to make new history and wants the team to move on from their 2024 achievements.
They possess a strong pace attack in Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana, with the latter two having been a part of the Peshawar Zalmi side that just clinched their 2nd PSL title merely 4 days ago.
Players to Watch out for
Nahid Rana, in particular, has been making rapid strides in world cricket. The speedster was named man-of-the-series in the ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand, and surprised everyone with the pace and bounce he can generate, taking 9 wickets in the PSL at a brilliant economy of less than 6. On the batting front, they possess a robust middle order which contains the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mominul Haque and Shanto, who is expected to bat at number 3.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim is named in the Test squad for the first time, owing to a strong domestic record and recent form in the ODI series against Pakistan and New Zealand. With both sides eager to head up the WTC table, the 1st Test in Mirpur will present a great opportunity for the teams to do so.
Predicted lineups
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam.
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (c), Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas.
