Broadcasting blunder aside, the opening moments of the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan delivered a headline of its own—when the TV graphics went wrong during the Pakistan playing XI presentation. In a bid to display Pakistan’s squad, the production overlay mistakenly swapped the players’ names for Indian counterparts, creating an instant wave of jokes online.
The Pakistan team graphic that viewers saw listed Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar. The absurdity of the mismatch sparked immediate reaction from fans, who flooded social media with comments and memes as the blunder went viral.
Quick facts
- During the first Test (Bangladesh vs Pakistan), the broadcaster displayed the Pakistan playing XI with incorrect Indian player names.
- The graphic featured Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar.
- Fans said the error was either a publicity stunt or a mistake meant to draw attention.
- Neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan had played Test cricket for six months before this match.
- Pakistan entered with a strong focus on T20s and the PSL, while Bangladesh’s record across other formats heading into 2026 was described as perfect.
- Babar Azam is missing due to a knee injury.
- Bangladesh’s pace attack is expected to be led by Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a century as Bangladesh posted 413 in 117.1 overs.
- Shan Masood struck 101 off 130 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.
- Mominul Haque made 91 off 20 balls with 10 fours; Mushfiqur Rahim hit 71 off 179 deliveries.
Some viewers suggested the mix-up was intentional to boost viewership, while others were sharper in their criticism. One fan wrote, “A little sense goes a long way, especially when broadcasting the wrong stuff!” Another added that the Pakistan selection committee was “working overtime on Photoshop now,” while a separate comment quipped that the graphics team also knows who actually delivers ratings.
There were also playful lines that leaned into the IPL and star-captain chatter. One joke claimed Rohit Sharma was still a captain and that Virat Kohli had “been sacked here as well,” while another asked whether the error was a genuine mistake or a tactic to “trigger indian fans.”
Match build-up and Bangladesh’s big total
Coming into the Test, both sides had been away from the format for roughly six months. Pakistan, meanwhile, had been heavily invested in shorter-format cricket and the PSL, while Bangladesh were framed as having a flawless record across other formats going into 2026.
The absence of Babar Azam became a major talking point ahead of the contest. The Pakistan batter is sidelined with a knee injury, forcing the team to adjust its batting plans.
For Bangladesh, the bowling unit is expected to carry the weight, led by Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed. With the bat, Bangladesh set the tone: a century from Najmul Hossain Shanto helped the hosts reach 413 runs in 117.1 overs.
Shanto’s innings was anchored by a captain’s knock from Shan Masood, who struck 101 runs off 130 balls. Masood’s innings included 12 boundaries and two maximums, while Mominul Haque added 91 off 20 deliveries, laced with 10 fours. Mushfiqur Rahim also made an impact, scoring 71 off 179 balls.
Captain’s toss remarks and debut storyline
After winning the toss initially, Shan Masood explained the thinking behind the selection and approach. He said, “I think pretty much what we expected and that’s why we brought in a squad where we have all options, and we just want to see how it plays and then obviously, once the first two innings are concluded, then we’ll have a say about the game. The start’s always important and carrying the momentum into the second test match is very important but again, we have to play day by day and let’s see how we go bowling first.”
Masood also highlighted a fresh face in the lineup, noting that Azan Awais is making his debut as an opener. He described Awais as a steady performer in domestic cricket, coming through the under-19 pathway into red-ball competition, with two “solid seasons” behind him. Masood referenced recent standout contributions in domestic tournaments as part of the selection context, saying Abdullah Fazal scored a century and won Man of the Match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and then topped the charts in the President’s Trophy—adding that Bangladesh were “very excited.”
Finally, Masood confirmed the late change caused by Babar’s injury, saying, “Unfortunately, Babar is out. It’s a late call,” as the match moved from buildup into action with Bangladesh’s total already setting the stage.
