Bangladesh seek a second Test series win over Pakistan in Dhaka after months of turmoil and red-ball absence.
The stretch since November last year has been unlike any other in recent Bangladesh cricket history. A players' strike, exclusion from the T20 World Cup and a change at the helm of the BCB marked a period when stability felt distant. Recent weeks, however, have brought a reshaped board and a return to red-ball action, with Pakistan arriving in Dhaka for a two-Test series this weekend. All of this follows months that felt like several lifetimes for a team still finding its footing.
Pakistan remain the opponent Bangladesh most want to measure themselves against after the Tigers claimed a historic two-Test series victory in 2024. That triumph has left a lasting impression on the current squad, with senior players convinced they can repeat the feat against the same rival. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed, though, prefer to focus on the present rather than nostalgia. They point to recent ODI success, ongoing preparations and a bowling unit firing on all cylinders as reasons for their confidence.
Bangladesh have won their last two ODI series, first against Pakistan and then New Zealand, despite spending half a year without playing Test cricket. The side has traditionally drawn strength from any form of success and has now named a squad containing all their first-choice batters plus two new faces. Selectors have included Tanzid Hasan for his recent white-ball form and Amite Hasan for his dominant domestic returns. The leadership sees this as a sign that momentum can carry across formats.
Shanto believes the groundwork for this series mirrors the meticulous planning that preceded the 2024 Pakistan tour. He recalls players being exceptionally well prepared and points to the Rawalpindi Test recovery from 26 for 6 as a career highlight. The captain insists the squad is training harder than ever, with fringe players also in long-term camp. While Shanto urges focus on the next ten days rather than the distant horizon, he leaves little doubt about Bangladesh’s ambition. 'I think it is possible for us to win the series this time too, provided we work extremely hard over the ten days. I don't want to look that far forward. It is important to play good cricket every day. If we can ensure that, we will have a good Test series.'
The two-Test win over Pakistan in 2024 remains Shanto’s crowning captaincy moment. The period that followed brought heavy defeats to India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, forcing the BCB to remove him from the ODI captaincy and, later, the Test role. After returning to lead the side against Ireland, Shanto has rediscovered form with fifties and a century in the recent ODIs. 'To be very honest, I am enjoying my captaincy. I wouldn't be in this job if I wasn't enjoying the role. It is quite normal for a cricketer to go through a lot. It is essential to stay within what you can control; there's no point thinking about what you can't control.'
Shanto highlights the technical aspects of leadership—field placements and bowling changes—where he feels he excelled during the 2024 series. He again credits experienced heads like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam for their constant guidance. 'Captaincy relates to a lot of technical things like field placements and bowling changes that come into play especially during crunch moments. I think I did those things quite well in the 2024 series [against Pakistan]. My biggest advantage are the experienced cricketers in the side like Mushfiq bhai, Mominul [Haque] bhai and Taijul [Islam] bhai. They are always happy to give me inputs.'
Shanto’s main weapon will be a four-man pace attack that has already impressed in recent ODIs. Taskin Ahmed will lead the charge with Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain. Rana has captured headlines recently, while Shoriful has delivered consistent returns and Ebadot has grown markedly. Taskin, back in the Test fold after December 2024, has stayed match-fit across formats. 'It is by the grace of the almighty that so many fast bowlers are coming up in Bangladesh. We have a great variety of fast bowling. We have guys like Mustafiz[ur Rahman], myself, Rana, Shoriful, Ebadot and Hasan Mahmud. All of us can bowl match-winning spells.'
Taskin traces the evolution of Bangladesh’s pace revolution to his own comeback during the Covid hiatus. 'Everyone saw how hard work and process can make anything happen. Everybody started to follow the same path. We became consistent regarding the process. We also have a strong bond off the field. We are having dinner together, we are going out together, we share each other's experience.' He recalls Rawalpindi’s opening spell as proof of how sporting conditions breed confidence. 'I was definitely enjoying bowling in Rawalpindi, particularly that first over of the match. I was able to execute the entire over the way I wanted. I took five balls away and brought the sixth ball in. Actually you will enjoy bowling when there are sporting conditions.'
Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivered the Player of the Series award in the 2024 Pakistan Tests with 155 runs and ten wickets across two matches—the best all-round return by a Bangladesh player in Pakistan in 27 years. His biggest impact came through crucial batting stands in both Tests. Mehidy’s current form, though, has dipped since Rawalpindi, and the task now is to replicate that all-round magic at home. Taskin believes the pitches in Bangladesh will offer encouragement to the seamers. 'When the bowlers get a little bit of movement, the chances of executing increase and, at the same time, the extra effort comes from within.'
Shanto remains in fine form with bat and pad, but Taskin may need time to rediscover his red-ball rhythm. Mehidy, too, has struggled for big returns since the Pakistan tour. The squad now boasts several performers who have already shown match-winning abilities in white-ball cricket. The critical question is whether they can channel that form into a collective red-ball performance. If they do, it could mark the start of a sustained resurgence for Bangladesh cricket.