Bangladesh will kick off their Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, with Pakistan opting to bowl after winning the toss. The match also arrives as an early chapter in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, where both sides will be looking to set the tone in a two-match series.
Teams, playing XIs and key inclusions
Bangladesh have named Najmul Hossain Shanto as captain, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das in the batting group. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed make up the spin-and-pace balance, while Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain round out the XI.
Pakistan’s line-up includes Azan Awais on debut, along with Abdullah Fazal also making his first appearance in this Test. Shan Masood leads the side, with Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas completing the XI. Shaheen Afridi brings the pace challenge, while Noman Ali and Hasan Ali look to provide wicket-taking options.
Match build-up: toss, series context and stakes
- Pakistan won the coin toss and chose to field first against Bangladesh in the opening Test at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.
- Both teams have arrived with a clear WTC mindset: the fixture begins the two-match battle that carries weight in the 2025–27 cycle.
- Pakistan are currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings and will be aiming for a strong start, with a clean sweep a key objective to improve their chances of finishing inside the top two.
- Pakistan head into the opener without Babar Azam, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.
- Pakistan’s recent record in Bangladesh has been dominant, having won both Tests convincingly during the 2021 tour.
- Bangladesh’s Test history against Pakistan has been tough: they have managed only two victories against 13 defeats, with one game ending in a draw.
Squads for the Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test
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, 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.
Pitch condition in Mirpur
The Mirpur surface is expected to offer an intriguing contest across sessions. Early indications point to a greener, grassier look than usual, which could help fast bowlers make early inroads. As the Test progresses, the pitch is forecast to slow down, bringing spinners into sharper focus and potentially favouring bowlers such as Sajid Khan and Taijul Islam later in the match.
When and where to watch
In India, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series will be available through live streaming on the FanCode app and website. There will be no live television broadcast for the match in India.
That’s it from the build-up as attention turns to the opening day at Mirpur. Stay with live commentary and updates from Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test as the match gets underway on May 8 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
