Pakistan begin Bangladesh Test series in Dhaka on Friday

DHAKA: Pakistan will open their two-match Test series against Bangladesh on Friday, with the first fixture scheduled to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12.

The second Test will take place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20. Both matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Pakistan are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings after playing two home Tests against South Africa in October last year. South Africa won the opening match by 93 runs, while Pakistan took the second Test by eight wickets.

Bangladesh are placed eighth in the standings after their two-Test series against Sri Lanka in June last year ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Pakistan last toured Bangladesh for a two-Test series in November and December 2021, when they completed a 2-0 sweep.

In the overall head-to-head record, the two teams have met in 15 Tests. Pakistan have won 12 of those matches, Bangladesh have won two, and one game ended in a draw.

Masood outlines Pakistan’s approach

Speaking at the pre-series press conference, Pakistan captain Shan Masood said the side was concentrating fully on the challenge ahead.

“We are fully focused on this series and the challenge of playing Bangladesh in their own conditions. Bangladesh are a very competitive side with quality in all departments and we are looking forward to testing ourselves against them.

“We have selected a well-balanced squad that can perform in different conditions. The players have experience of playing in seam-friendly as well as spin-friendly environments, so we are confident about the options available to us.

“The management group consists of people we have played alongside for many years. They understand the players well and that familiarity helps create a positive environment within the side.

“In Test cricket, taking 20 wickets remains the key to success. We have confidence in our bowling attack and the team combination. If we perform well collectively in batting, bowling and fielding, we can achieve good results in this series.”

Squad and support staff

Pakistan have named a 16-member squad for the series comprising Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The team management includes Naveed Akram Cheema as manager, Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach, Asad Shafiq as batting coach, Umar Gul as bowling coach and Abdul Saad as fielding coach. The support staff also includes Cliffe Deacon as physiotherapist, Grant Luden as strength and conditioning coach, Usman Hashmi as analyst, Syed Naeem Ahmad as media manager, Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari as security manager, Dr Wajid Ali Rafai as team doctor and Muhammad Ehsan as masseur.

Australia ODI series announced

Separately, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday that Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series as both teams build towards the 2027 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October that year.

“Australia will arrive in Islamabad on May 23 and take on Pakistan in the first ODI at the Rawalpindi stadium on May 30,” said a PCB release.

The second and third ODIs will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and 4. According to the PCB, all three matches will begin at 4:30pm local time because of the hot weather.

The upcoming tour will be Australia’s first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. Australia also played a T20 series in Pakistan earlier this year and were beaten 3-0 by the hosts in January-February.