Shanto Backs Bangladesh Pace Attack as Historic Test Double Beckons

Key facts

• The first Test of a two-match series begins Friday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
• Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto rates his team's fast-bowling unit as 'slightly ahead' of Pakistan's famed attack.
• Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of the opening Test due to a left knee injury.
• Bangladesh have never defeated Pakistan in a home Test match across their history.
• The hosts' 16 Test wins at home include nine victories at the Mirpur venue, more than half of their total.
• Bangladesh swept Pakistan 2-0 in their last meeting in Pakistan in 2024, securing their most famous Test series victory.
• Spinner Noman Ali needs three more wickets to reach the milestone of 100 Test dismissals.
• In the last World Test Championship cycle, Bangladesh passed 300 only once in six home Tests, winning that match against New Zealand.

A Pitch Set for Pace and a Quest for History

The grass on the pitch at Mirpur carries a tinge of promise and precedent. It sets the tone for a pace-dominated contest as Bangladesh and Pakistan open a two-Test series, with the hosts aiming to complete a remarkable double. Having secured a historic 2-0 away series whitewash against Pakistan in 2024, Bangladesh now seeks to conquer a final frontier: a first-ever Test victory over Pakistan on home soil. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s ambition is unequivocal. On the eve of the series, he framed the challenge in simple, demanding terms. His side must post big first-innings totals to give a potent attack the platform to take 20 wickets. 'If we can put up 400 or close to it, that would be good for us,' Shanto said. He cares less about the tempo than the substance, adding, 'It doesn’t matter if 400 runs come from 80 overs or 120 overs.' The venue itself is a fortress in the making. Of Bangladesh’s 16 Test wins at home, more than half—nine—have been secured at this ground. Yet, the historical ledger against Pakistan here remains blank. This series represents both an opportunity to rectify that and a critical juncture in the new World Test Championship cycle.

Shanto’s Bold Claim and Masood’s Quiet Confidence

In a pre-match declaration that underscores a shift in self-perception, Shanto publicly backed his fast bowlers as holding an edge. 'In the pace bowling department, I would say both teams have good pace attacks,' he stated. 'But if you ask me, I would say our pace bowling attack is maybe slightly ahead, if I look at the last few years.' He praised his quicks for revolutionary performances that have reshaped Bangladesh’s cricketing identity. Pakistan captain Shan Masood acknowledged the quality of the Bangladesh attack but politely deflected the comparison. 'They've got their qualities, we've got our qualities,' he said, framing the challenge as one his team relishes. 'We're relishing the occasion of facing a good attack and hopefully getting some runs against them.' Masood rejected the language of revenge for the 2024 defeat, focusing instead on consistency and larger dreams. 'If we are consistent maybe we can fulfil our bigger dreams,' he said. 'Every cricketer, every team has dreams of playing finals, of playing for trophies.' His side enters this cycle seeking redemption after a ninth-place finish in the last Championship.

Squad Dynamics and a Pivotal Absence

Bangladesh have bolstered their lineup with intent. Attacking opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim has been included, with Shanto urging him to translate his white-ball aggression to the Test arena. 'The way he plays ODI and T20 cricket, I want him to play the same way,' the captain said. The pace unit is strengthened by the return from injury of Taskin Ahmed, who joins the experienced core and the exciting Nahid Rana. For Pakistan, a significant cloud hangs over their camp. Star batter Babar Azam, arriving with rich form from the Pakistan Super League, has been ruled out of the first Test due to a left knee injury. His absence removes a major source of runs and confidence, shifting the batting burden onto others in the lineup. A personal milestone is also within reach for the visitors. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali requires just three more wickets to complete 100 dismissals in Test cricket, a landmark that could prove crucial if the pitch offers later turn.

The World Test Championship Context

This series is a critical early chapter for both nations in the 2025-27 World Test Championship. Bangladesh’s journey in the competition has been one of incremental progress. They were ninth and winless in the inaugural 2019-21 cycle but rose to seventh in 2023-25, fueled by four wins including their historic two in Pakistan and one in the West Indies. Their home record in the Championship, however, remains a pressing concern. Since 2019, they have secured only one win in home Tests within the competition—that 150-run victory over New Zealand, which coincided with their sole home innings total surpassing 300 in six attempts. Shanto identified this as the key area for improvement. 'As a captain I want my side to win more matches at home in this cycle,' he stated. Pakistan’s recent Championship form is similarly a work in progress. They have played only two Tests in this new cycle, drawing a series 1-1 against world champion South Africa at home last October. Their schedule offers a potential path; they will not face Australia or India, with away series in the West Indies and England to come from late July.

The Stakes of Home Dominance

For Bangladesh, this series transcends a bilateral contest. It is a test of their ability to leverage familiar conditions into consistent success, a hallmark of top-tier Test nations. Shanto’s public targeting of big first-innings scores is a direct response to past failings, a strategic pivot meant to empower their most potent weapon: the pace attack. The historical weight of the Pakistan fixture adds another layer. That 2024 away victory was a watershed, proof of capability in the most foreign of conditions. Converting that into home dominance would signal a profound transformation, moving from occasional giant-killers to formidable hosts. Pakistan, meanwhile, arrives with the dual task of avenging a painful recent memory and kickstarting their own Championship campaign. Without Babar Azam, their resolve and depth will be tested from the first session in Mirpur. The grassy pitch promises a contest where every run will be hard-earned, and every bowling advantage, real or perceived, will be fiercely contested.

What Comes After Mirpur

The outcome in Mirpur will set the narrative for the second Test in Sylhet and define the early trajectory of both teams’ Championship campaigns. For Bangladesh, success would validate Shanto’s confident leadership and the investment in fast bowling, creating momentum for upcoming home series against the West Indies and England. For Pakistan, navigating this challenge without their premier batter is an immediate test of squad resilience. The performance here will either solidify Masood’s quiet confidence or amplify the pressure as they look ahead to their own overseas tours. The series also serves as a broader referendum on the health of Test cricket in these nations. A compelling, competitive contest on a sporting pitch would be a victory in itself, showcasing the format’s enduring drama. As the players take the field, they carry not just national hopes but the weight of recent history, with a chance to rewrite it over the next five days.

The bottom line

• Bangladesh seeks its first-ever Test victory at home against Pakistan, aiming to build on a historic 2-0 away series win in 2024.
• Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has explicitly challenged his batters to post 400-run first-innings totals to empower a pace attack he rates above Pakistan’s.
• Pakistan will be without star batter Babar Azam for the first Test in Mirpur due to a left knee injury, a significant blow to their batting order.
• The series is a crucial early fixture in the 2025-27 World Test Championship, with both teams looking to improve poor home records from the last cycle.
• The grassy Mirpur pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers, setting the stage for a low-scoring, attritional battle where every session will be pivotal.