Although Pakistan is ranked two spots higher than Bangladesh on the World Test Championship table, both teams find themselves in the bottom half. This Test series marks the first for both sides since their disappointing exits from the T20 World Cup—Bangladesh bowed out in the Super Eight, while Pakistan didn’t make it that far, leaving fans from both nations disheartened. With a significant gap since the World Cup, this series presents an opportunity for both teams to redeem themselves and approach the games with renewed energy.
Pakistan enters the series as the clear favourite, boasting a strong record against Bangladesh. The team, led by captain Shan Masood, is guided by their new red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie. This pairing brings a wealth of experience, particularly from their recent county cricket stints, which they hope will provide much-needed stability to Pakistan’s Test squad.
Apart from Aamer Jamal, Pakistan has a full-strength squad available, and they even announced their playing XI two days before the Test. Opting for an all-pace attack on the Rawalpindi pitch, Pakistan is also giving Saim Ayub another shot as an opener. In contrast, Bangladesh faced challenges in their preparation, unable to train in Dhaka. Accepting an invitation from the PCB, the Bangladesh team trained for three extra days in Lahore before heading to Rawalpindi for additional sessions. While coach Chandika Hathurusinghe is pleased with the preparation, he remains cautious about the team’s batting, which has been in decline over the past year.
Bangladesh’s batting lineup faces significant pressure, particularly with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto out of form and Litton Das, whom Masood has praised, struggling for consistency. This places a heavy burden on senior players like Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mominul Haque to deliver strong performances.
Despite being favourites, Pakistan isn’t underestimating Bangladesh, especially given the visitors’ in-form pace attack. Though lacking in experience, bowlers like Khaled Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have impressed with the new ball, and Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana add speed and energy to the mix, setting up an intriguing contest against Pakistan’s batters.
Form Guide
- Pakistan: LLLWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
- Bangladesh: LLLWW
In the Spotlight
Naseem Shah showed signs of returning to his best in the recent four-day match against Bangladesh A. He took three wickets in the first innings, including key players Mominul Haque and Anamul Haque, and bowled a seven-over spell in the second. This was his only first-class appearance in the past 12 months, but Bangladesh knows he remains a significant threat, especially after his hat-trick on debut against them during their last tour of Pakistan.
Najmul Hossain Shanto had a solid 2023, scoring 440 Test runs with three centuries at an average of 55.00. However, his form has dipped recently, managing only 32 runs in four innings against Sri Lanka earlier this year. His struggles extend across formats, and as captain, he faces added pressure to perform. Shanto’s tendency to drive away from his body has been a concern, but if he can show more discipline, he could provide the top-order stability that Bangladesh desperately needs.
Stats
- Bangladesh has yet to win a Test match against Pakistan.
- Four players from Bangladesh’s current squad played in their last Test in Pakistan, which also took place in Rawalpindi in 2020.
- Shakib Al Hasan is the highest run-scorer (508) for Bangladesh in Tests against Pakistan, while Taijul Islam, who may not play, has taken the most wickets (22).