Bangladesh national cricket team will host Pakistan national cricket team for a two-match Test series, which is scheduled to start tomorrow at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka. Before the first test match, former Pakistan captain and star batsman Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first test match due to injury.
Babar Azam, who was in sensational form during the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, was the tournament’s top scorer with 588 runs (73.50 average) in 11 innings and won the Hanif Muhammad Cap. Babar led the HBL PSL 11 Team of the Tournament by scoring two centuries. He also led his team Peshawar Zalmi to the championship.
Babar Azam out due to knee injury
Babar Azam’s exclusion from the first Test match of the series will be a huge blow for the Pakistan national cricket team, as he has been the backbone of their batting order. He is suffering from a left knee injury, due to which he will miss the crucial red-ball match against Bangladesh.
The team’s medical panel is currently assessing Babar’s condition. Further updates will be shared in due course. “Pakistan batsman Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test against Bangladesh due to a left knee injury,” the press release said.
Both these matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship and will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May. Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test, which will be played from May 16 to 20.
Bangladesh are in eighth place, having suffered one loss and one tie in two matches, with a win percentage of 16.67. However, Pakistan are at fifth position with one win and one loss, 12 points and 50% win ratio.
I don’t think our side is a ally – Shan Masood
Speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test, Masood dismissed any thoughts of a comeback and instead praised the home team for their success in the previous series.
“I don’t think our team associates itself with any words related to revenge. We have to give credit to Bangladesh for the way they prepared and performed in 2024. We thought we would be better than them in those conditions, but they played really good cricket,” he told reporters.
“The way they came back in situations where we were on top, like when they were 26 for six, shows their skill and ability. We will not take any opponent lightly,” he said.
ban vs pak squad
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Aga, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Bangladesh (1st Test): Nazmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haq, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehdi Hasan Miraj (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanjeed Hasan and Amit Hasan.
Many more to follow…
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