Bangladesh's national men’s cricket team finally hit back to the field today after their T20 World Cup as they play a two-match Test series against Pakistan on their home ground.
The series is crucial for the Tigers as it will give them a chance to move into the top four of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle if they manage to win two matches in a row.
To achieve such a feat, Bangladesh will have to fight against all the odds as they are yet to win a single Test on Pakistan soil. In all 13 matches, they have lost 12 of them, the other was a draw.
Pakistan is currently placed sixth after featuring in five Tests this cycle. They have won two while losing three Tests to gain a points percentage (PCT) of 36.7. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are ranked eighth with a solitary win in four matches.
Bangladesh started well in the championship after defeating New Zealand in Sylhet as it was also the debut for newly appointed Test Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
After that, Bangladesh played three more matches in this cycle of Test Championship. All of which had to suffer defeat.
At this moment, Bangladesh hoping to overturn its no-win record against Pakistan, having lost 12 of the 13 Tests, with just one draw.
Bangladesh will secure three wins in six matches if they win the series against Pakistan by a 2-0 margin. Team Tigers will have 50 per cent points as a points percentage. Shanto's name will appear in the fourth place in the World Test Championship.
Babar Azam’s side last featured in a Test series in Australia last year where they went down 0-3 to the hosts. Bangladesh lost their last home Test series to Sri Lanka in March 2024.
While the two Tests were slated to be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) moved the second Test from Karachi to Rawalpindi where the first match will be played. The decision was made following the ongoing renovations at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, one of the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Pakistan will enter the Test with an all-pace attack, having released its only spinner, Abrar Ahmed which they last used five years ago against Sri Lanka at the same venue. Pakistan captain Shan Masood refused to accept the Bangladesh team is under-prepared.
“You expect all international Test sides to come into a series well prepared and trying to play their best cricket,” he told.
“Bangladesh is a side that has quality players in all departments and we highly respect the challenges they bring as a side to us.” he added.
Masood also hopes Pakistan will show improvement under the new coach.
“We are excited to see how they (coaches) help us to be better people, better cricketers and -- most importantly -- be among the top teams in the world.”
