Najmul Hossain Shanto vs Pakistan. Image Credits: AFP
Bangladesh and Pakistan are clashing in the first match of the two-Test series that began on May 8, 2026. This match is being played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, and is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2027.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bowl first. Babar Azam missed out on this game due to a knee injury, while Abdullah Fazal and Azam Awais made their Test debuts for Pakistan.
Mominul Haque leads Bangladesh’s fightback after early blows
Pakistan boasted of a very good bowling attack for this match. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, and Hasan Ali led the pace attack, while Salman Ali Agha and Noman Ali were the spinners for the Men in Green.
The bowlers did their job as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Bangladeshi opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 8 runs and Hasan Ali took care of the other opener, Shadman Islam, for 13 runs.
But then experienced Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto came together to rescue Bangladesh from a precarious position.
Haque, a former Bangladeshi captain, showed great restraint in dealing with the Pakistani pace attack and spinners. He hammered a brilliant 91 in 200 balls with 10 fours and was unlucky to fall short of a well-deserved century, as he was dismissed by Noman Ali.
Najmul Hossain Shanto plays a captain’s knock
On the other hand, Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played an amazing knock for his team, Bangladesh. He added 170 runs for the third wicket with Mominul Haque and slowly and surely got the team in a more comfortable position.
As Shanto grew in confidence, he also began taking on the Pakistani bowlers and played some delightful shots to all parts of the ground in Mirpur.
Pakistan's onslaught appeared to be ineffective for the majority of the afternoon, despite persistent effort.
As the two batted on, unfazed by pressure, long shadows extended across the field. Bangladesh maintained its advantage throughout most of the session without showing any signs of strain.
Najmul Hossain Shanto becomes the first Bangladeshi captain to hold this record
He batted with grit and finesse and hammered 101 runs in 130 balls in a dominating show of batting. During his knock, Shanto hit 12 fours and 2 sixes. His amazing knock came to an end when Mohammad Abbas dismissed him LBW in the 74th over of the Bangladesh innings.
However, despite his dismissal, Shanto managed to etch his name in the record books. With his knock of 101, Shanto became the first captain to score a Test century against Pakistan in their history.
The previous record for a Bangladeshi captain's best score in a Test match against Pakistan was held by Mushfiqur Rahim. In the second innings of the Mirpur Test, which took place from December 17–21, 2011, Rahim scored 53 runs from 143 balls for Bangladesh while batting at number seven.
Highest scores in tests by Bangladesh captain against Pakistan:
1. 101-Najmul Hossain Shanto, 2026
2. 53- Mushfiqur Rahim, 2011
3. 49- Mushfiqur Rahim, 2011
4. 41—Mominul Haque, 2020
5. 40- Mushfiqur Rahim, 2011
Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das hold fort for Bangladesh
At the time of writing this piece, veteran Mushfiqur Rahim and keeper-batter Litton Das were at the crease for Bangladesh, holding fort against Pakistani bowlers.
Pakistani bowlers had to toil hard in heat and humidity in Mirpur. Barring Salman Ali Agha, all the other four bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, and Noman Ali, have picked one wicket each.
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