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Pakistan and Bangladesh lock horns in the first of a two-match Test series, starting on Wednesday, August 21, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
This will be Shan Masood-led Pakistan’s first Test assignment since their shambolic 0-3 whitewash against Australia Down Under in December 2023 – January 2024. Pakistan will be returning to action for the first time since their abrupt first-round exit in the T20 World Cup 2024. Jason Gillespie, who was appointed as the head coach of the red-ball team in April 2024, will be eager to inspire the players and help them realise their true potential.
In a recent interview, Masood rued the lack of Test matches Pakistan are playing in their cricket calendar and, more importantly, the gap between the two-Test series. With five Test matches (two versus Bangladesh and three versus England) scheduled for the upcoming couple of months, Masood would want his players to showcase their full potential in the longest format and iron out their flaws.
Mohammad Rizwan was the leading run-scorer for Pakistan against the Aussies. In four innings, he scored 193 runs at an average of 48.25. Meanwhile, Aamer Jamal, who impressed everyone by finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets from three matches at 20.44, has been ruled out with back issues. However, Naseem Shah is set to return to the format for the first time in over a year.
Also Read: Pakistan v Bangladesh 2024: Schedule, Squad, Live Streaming, Broadcasters & All you need to know
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi players will have to focus on the challenging task of facing Pakistan in their own backyard and avert thoughts of the political tension that has rocked the country. The Bangla Tigers will also be returning to action for the first time since their loss to Afghanistan in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.
In March-April Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh to play a multi-format series. The Lankan Lions won the two-match Test series convincingly by a 2-0 margin. Sri Lanka in the first match by 328 runs and the second by 192 runs. Even the most passionate Bangladeshi fan will admit that the Tigers have a lot of room for improvement in the red-ball arena.
Former skipper Mominul Haque top-scored for Bangladesh in the series against Sri Lanka, as he amassed 175 runs from four innings at an average of 58.33. Meanwhile, seamer Khaled Ahmed bagged the most number of wickets in the series for the hosts, as he bagged seven from two Tests at an average of 31.86.
Match Details:
| Match | Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st Test |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. |
| Date and Time | Wednesday-Sunday, August 21-25, 10:30 AM IST |
Head-To-Head Records
| Matches | 13 |
| Won by Pakistan | 12 |
| Won by Bangladesh | 00 |
| Draw | 01 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture |
August 29, 2001 |
| Most-recent Fixture |
December 4, 2021 |
PAK vs BAN Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan:
Pakistan announced their playing XI a couple of days before the commencement of the Test. They picked four fast bowlers in the side, while all-rounder Salman Ali Agha will operate as the lone spinner. There is a fine mix of youth and experience in the playing XI and it adds to the intrigue around the series.
Playing XI
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali.
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh will have experienced campaigners like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim on their side against Pakistan. While Shakib played only the second Test against Sri Lanka, Mushfiqur missed the entire series due to a thumb injury. Their presence will give Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto a lot of experience to rely on if needed. Spin has been Bangladesh’s strength over the years but it will be interesting to see if they field a pace-heavy line-up after assessing Pakistan’s team combination. Meanwhile, Mahmudul Hasan Joy suffered a groin injury and Shadman Islam is expected to replace him as the opener alongside Zakir Hasan.
Also Read: Shakib Al Hasan is batting well after eye testing: Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha
Predicted XI
Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed.
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