Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl 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 has handed Test debuts to two youngsters, Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais. Star batter Babar Azam has been ruled out due to a left knee injury, leaving a significant gap in the batting lineup.
The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle. The second Test will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.
Pakistan currently sit fifth in the WTC standings with one win and one defeat from two matches, while Bangladesh are eighth after recording one draw and one loss. In their last Test series in August 2024, Bangladesh achieved a historic 2-0 away victory over Pakistan.
Squads
Pakistan: 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: 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.
