DHAKA: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Bangladesh in the opening Test of the two-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.
Pakistan were forced into a major change ahead of the match, with star batter Babar Azam ruled out due to a left knee injury.
The visitors handed Test debuts to young batters Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais as they began their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.
Pakistan entered the match fifth in the WTC standings, with one win and one defeat from two Tests, collecting 12 points at a 50 percent points percentage. Bangladesh, meanwhile, were placed eighth after recording one draw and one loss in their opening two matches.
The second and final Test of the series will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.
Bangladesh will also look to draw confidence from their last meeting with Pakistan in August 2024, when they secured a historic 2-0 series sweep — their first-ever away Test series victory over the Green Shirts.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain.
