Pakistan choose to bowl after winning toss in first Bangladesh Test

DHAKA: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Bangladesh in the opening match of their two-Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. The second Test is scheduled to be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan entered the match placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings. According to the details available before the start of play, they had won one and lost one of their two Tests, collecting 12 points with a 50 per cent win rate.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, were eighth in the standings. They had recorded one draw and one defeat in their two matches so far.

The contest also comes after the previous Test series between the two sides in August 2024, when Bangladesh secured a 2-0 win over Pakistan. The result was described as Bangladesh’s first away Test series victory against the Green Shirts.

Series begins in Dhaka

The first Test is being played in Dhaka, with the two teams beginning another chapter in their red-ball rivalry as part of the ongoing WTC campaign. Pakistan’s decision to bowl first set the tone for the opening day of the series, which will be followed by the second fixture in Sylhet next week.

The squads named for the series include a mix of established and emerging players on both sides.

Squads

Pakistan squad: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Shan Masood(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Hasan Ali, Amad Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Ghazi Ghori, Abdullah Fazal.

Bangladesh squad: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Amite Hasan.

The match marks the start of a two-game series that could influence both teams’ early positions in the World Test Championship table. Pakistan began the contest with an even record in the cycle, while Bangladesh were still searching for their first win.

Further details were awaited as play got under way in Dhaka.