Bangladesh go pace-heavy against Pakistan after losing toss in Mirpur Test

Bangladesh national cricket team began their first Test against Pakistan national cricket team at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday (May 8) with a pace-heavy XI after losing the toss and being sent in to bat first.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to field on a Mirpur surface expected to offer assistance to seamers early in the match.

Despite losing the toss, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto remained optimistic, saying his side aims to put up a strong first-innings total on what appears to be a sporting wicket.

Bangladesh enter the series carrying confidence from their historic 2-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2024. While both teams insist that series is now in the past, the Tigers are expected to draw inspiration from that memorable triumph.

In a notable departure from Mirpur’s traditional spin-dominant strategy, Bangladesh fielded three specialist pacers in the playing XI. Taskin Ahmed returned to the Test side after a lengthy absence, joining Nahid Rana and Ebadot Hossain in the pace attack. The spin department will be led by experienced duo Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Bangladesh did not hand a debut to any player in the opening Test. Pakistan, however, introduced two debutants after star batter Babar Azam was ruled out on the eve of the match with a knee injury. Young batters Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal made their Test debuts for the visitors.

Weather conditions in Dhaka remained sunny in the morning, although rain is forecast later on the opening day. The wicket retains a layer of grass following recent rainfall, while the lush outfield suggests pacers could receive additional movement — raising expectations of a more batting-friendly Mirpur track than usual.

Bangladesh XI

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Ebadot Hossain.

Pakistan XI

Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas.