The Bangladesh cricket team led by Najmul Hossain Shanto has arrived in Pakistan for a two-Test series. The first is scheduled to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi. The second match will take place in Karachi from August 30. Gaddafi Stadium Lahore will not host any game due to ongoing upgradation.

This series is part of the ICC Test Championship 2023-2025.

Although Pakistan has traditionally been the stronger side, Bangladesh’s improvement over the years has made for some interesting contests. Let’s delve into the records and history of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Tests.

Pakistan and Bangladesh played their first Test in 2001. Bangladesh had been granted Test status in November 2000.

Since then Bangladesh have played 141 Tests, lost 104 and won only 19. Their winning percentage is just 13.47.

Pakistan have had a significant upper hand in Test matches against Bangladesh. Both have faced each other in 13 Test matches since their first encounter during the Asian Test Championship in 2001. Pakistan hold an undefeated record against Bangladesh, winning 12 matches, with one ending in a draw.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood is confident about his team’s chances. “The positive thing is that we are playing at home and our players will be familiar with the conditions. We need to take advantage of it, but the key will be to handle mental and physical pressure.”

The team is determined to secure a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

After a promising start to the 2023-25 cycle with a series win over Sri Lanka, Pakistan were thrashed by Australia 3-0.

Pakistan are focused on bouncing back and reclaiming their position in the top two as seven out of nine Test matches are scheduled on home soil.

The recent appointments of Jason Gillespie as the head coach and Tim Nielsen as the high-performance coach for red-ball cricket have been seen as a positive move for Pakistan cricket.

Bangladesh’s senior allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed are back in the Bangladesh Test squad for the series.

On paper, Pakistan look much stronger, especially in home conditions, but in the presence of veterans Mushfiqur, Mominul Haque and Shakib, who have collectively played 216 matches, Bangladesh can’t be taken as an easy opponent.

On the bowling side too, Taijul Islam and Miraz Mehidy Hasan have been leading the spin department for a long time and have taken more than 350 wickets.

Pakistan have won four Tests against Bangladesh by an innings. The biggest win came in Multan when in 2001 they beat Bangladesh by an innings and 264 runs.

The closest that Bangladesh came to winning against Pakistan was way back in 2003 when they set the hosts 261-run target and dismissed half the side for just 99 in Multan. But Inzamam-ul-Haq’s masterly unbeaten century guided Pakistan to a sensational one-wicket victory.

Over the years, several players have made significant contributions to Pakistan-Bangladesh Test matches. For Pakistan, Inzamam-ul-Haq stands out with his consistent performances. He was a thorn in Bangladesh’s side, scoring multiple centuries. Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were also prolific against Bangladesh.

Despite the one-sided nature of the series, there have been several memorable moments. One such instance was in the 2003 Test in Karachi, where Bangladesh came agonizingly close to defeating Pakistan. Chasing a target of 217, Bangladesh fell just short, being bowled out for 202. Pakistan won by 1 wicket, but Bangladesh’s spirited performance earned them respect.

Another notable match was in 2015 when Bangladesh managed to draw a Test against Pakistan in Khulna.

This match was historic for Bangladesh as they scored 555 in their first innings, their highest-ever total against Pakistan in Test cricket. The match ended in a draw, with Tamim Iqbal’s double century being a highlight, signifying Bangladesh’s growing competence in the longest format of the game.

Pakistan’s 628 at Khulna in 2015 is the highest innings total in their bilateral Test cricket.

Bangladesh were bowled out by Pakistan for just 96 — the lowest completed innings total in their bilateral Test cricket — in Peshawar in 2003. Pakistan’s lowest Test innings total against Bangladesh came in Multan in 2003 when they were bowled out for 175.

Former opener Muhammad Hafeez has been Pakistan’s most successful batsman against Bangladesh. He scored 650 runs in seven Tests. He scored three centuries and one fifty, averaging 59.09. Former captain Younis Khan is just behind him with 638 runs in the same number of matches at an average of 79.75 with three hundreds.

Former skipper Habibul Bashar scored 554 runs against Pakistan, including one hundred and six fifties, averaging 50.36.

Tamim Iqbal’s 206 against Pakistan in Khulna in 2015 remains one of the finest innings by a Bangladeshi batsman in Test cricket. Shakib has contributed with both bat and ball, often being the key player for his side in these encounters.

On the bowling front, Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal were highly effective against Bangladesh. Kaneria, with his leg-spin, troubled Bangladeshi batsmen consistently, while Ajmal’s off-spin posed challenges that Bangladesh struggled to overcome.

Kaneria took 34 wickets in five Tests against Bangladesh with the average of 16.41. His best figures were 7-77. Tajiul Islam remains the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with 22 wickets, averaging 37.04 with the best figures of 7-116.

In recent years, the gap between the two teams has narrowed somewhat, with Bangladesh improving as a Test-playing nation. While Pakistan still hold the upper hand, Bangladesh’s performances have shown more fight and resilience. The 2021 series in Bangladesh, where Pakistan won both matches, saw Bangladesh putting up a decent fight, especially in the second Test in Dhaka, where they managed to push the game into the fifth day.

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