Series: Pakistan Tour of Bangladesh 2026 Format: ICC World Test Championship Tests: 2 | Venue: Mirpur & Sylhet Series Status: Bangladesh lead 1-0

Series Overview

The Pakistan men’s national cricket team arrived in Bangladesh in May 2026 for a two-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. What followed was a compelling display of home dominance by the Bangladesh national men’s cricket team — one that continued a remarkable streak against their subcontinental rivals.

This series marked Bangladesh’s third consecutive Test win against Pakistan, having already won the 2024 series by a 2-0 margin. Far from a formality, both Tests produced intense cricket over all five days, with Bangladesh asserting control through spin, pace, and patient batting. 

1st Test — Mirpur (Dhaka) Dates: May 8–12, 2026 | Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium Result: Bangladesh won by 104 runs

Pakistan Men’s National Cricket Team vs Bangladesh National Men’s Cricket Team Score Card — 1st Test

Bangladesh 1st Innings: 413

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. They posted a commanding 413, with the lower-middle order contributing vital runs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto led from the front, and the innings was later bolstered by contributions from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das — two batters who would go on to define the series with the bat.

Pakistan 1st Innings: 386

Pakistan responded admirably, keeping themselves in the contest with 386. Azan Awais top-scored with a patient 85, sharing a 100-run opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq. Abdullah Fazal also contributed with a composed 37. The total left Bangladesh with a lead of 27, which they chose to extend aggressively.

Bangladesh 2nd Innings: 240/9 declared

Bangladesh declared their second innings at 240/9, setting Pakistan a target of 268 to win on the final day. Mominul Haque top-scored with 88, and skipper Shanto made 58. The declaration came with Bangladesh trusting their bowling attack to finish the job. 

Pakistan 2nd Innings: 163 (52.5 overs)

Pakistan’s chase fell apart on Day 5. Nahid Rana finished with figures of 5 for 40, tearing through the Pakistan lower order and claiming the two crucial wickets of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. Rana’s match figures of 6/144 represent the second-best bowling performance by a Bangladeshi pacer against Pakistan in Tests, behind only Khaled Mahmud’s 7/105 in Multan in 2003.

Key Performers 1st Test:

• Nahid Rana (BAN): 5/40 in Pakistan’s 2nd innings; 6 wickets in the match
• Azan Awais (PAK): 85 in the 1st innings (top score)
• Mominul Haque (BAN): 88 in Bangladesh’s 2nd innings
• Najmul Hossain Shanto (BAN): Player of the Match; 58 in 2nd innings + captaincy

Shanto said after the match: “Very happy. Proud of all the guys, the way we played. We have been working hard for the last few months. Slowly, we are getting better at Test cricket, and that’s one thing we have always wanted to do.”

Pakistan were also penalised eight ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test.

2nd Test — Sylhet Dates: May 16–20, 2026 | Venue: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Status: In Progress — Day 5 (Pakistan need 121 runs, Bangladesh need 3 wickets)

Pakistan Men’s National Cricket Team vs Bangladesh National Men’s Cricket Team Score Card — 2nd Test

Pakistan’s 2nd innings are ongoing at the close of Day 4. Target: 437. Runs needed: 121. Wickets remaining: 3.

Bangladesh 1st Innings: 278

Bangladesh were dismissed for 278 in their first innings. Pakistan took early wickets — Bangladesh lost their 5th wicket at 238 and their 6th at 272 — before Litton Das and Taijul Islam added a 50-run 7th-wicket stand to push the total forward. Litton Das top-scored with 99, agonisingly short of a century, before being caught at deep square leg.

Pakistan 1st Innings: 232 (57.4 overs)

Pakistan were bowled out for 232. The fall of wickets showed a top-order collapse — 22 for 1, 23 for 2, 61 for 3, 79 for 4 — before Babar Azam steadied the innings with 142 at the 5th wicket. Shan Masood contributed 41, but Pakistan ultimately fell 46 short. Taijul Islam was Bangladesh’s chief destroyer, taking wickets consistently through the innings. 

Bangladesh 2nd Innings: 390

This was where Bangladesh seized complete control. Mushfiqur Rahim scored a record 14th Test century for Bangladesh, his highest individual score of the series, leading his side to a position of total dominance. Mushfiqur finished the series as its leading run-scorer with 253 runs across four innings at an average of 63.25. Litton Das added another half-century, and Taijul Islam struck a valuable lower-order 49. Bangladesh’s eventual total of 390 set Pakistan a daunting 437 to win.

Pakistan 2nd Innings: 316/7 (86 overs, Day 4 close)

Despite the impossible target, Pakistan showed fight on Day 4. Shan Masood led from the front with 71, while Salman Agha also scored 71. The standout partnership came from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha, who added 134 runs together in the final session to drag Pakistan to 316/7 at the close. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 75 at stumps, the final valiant point of resistance for a visiting side who still need an improbable 121 for victory going into Day 5. 

Taijul Islam picked up 4 wickets for 113 runs in Pakistan’s second innings, keeping Bangladesh firmly in control.

Key Performers — 2nd Test (through Day 4):

• Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN): Record 14th Test century; series-leading 253 runs
• Litton Das (BAN): 99 in 1st innings; 239 runs across the series
• Shan Masood (PAK): 71 in the 2nd innings; led Pakistan’s fightback
• Salman Agha (PAK): 71 in the 2nd innings; 134-run stand with Rizwan
• Mohammad Rizwan (PAK): 75* at stumps; holding Pakistan’s slim hopes
• Taijul Islam (BAN): 4 wickets in 2nd innings; 11 wickets in the series

Series Stats (After 1st Test + 4 innings of 2nd Test)

What’s at Stake on Day 5

Going into the fifth and final day of the 2nd Test in Sylhet, Pakistan need 121 more runs with Mohammad Rizwan still standing, while Bangladesh need just three wickets. One partnership can flip everything; one spell can decide the series.

If Bangladesh take the remaining three wickets, they will complete a 2-0 sweep and their third straight series win over Pakistan in Test cricket. If Pakistan somehow reach 437, it would rank among the most extraordinary Test run chases in modern cricket history. Either way, Day 5 in Sylhet promises to be unmissable.

From spin traps to speed merchants, Bangladesh’s fast bowling resurgence has become one of the defining stories of the series.