Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test Predictions - Babar Azam to blast the Bangladesh attack

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 27 minutes ago

Simon Lewis 27 minutes ago

Share this article

Babar Azam has scored 71*, 100*, 25, 59 & 103 runs in his last 6 innings.
Najmul Hossain Shanto has scored eight Test tons (2 298 runs) in 39 Tests.
Can Pakistan deny Bangladesh a hat-trick of Test wins over them?

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Getty Images).

Bangladesh vs Pakistan Predictions - 1st Test

Bangladesh vs Pakistan Predictions - 1st Test
Head-to-Head
Bangladesh Form
Pakistan Form
Bangladesh & Pakistan Team News

Bangladesh come into the 1st Test on the strength of back-to-back wins over Ireland and three wins and a draw in their last five Tests, although their opposition included low-ranked Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Pakistan have lost three and won two of their last five Tests, but three of those matches were against the defending World Test Champions South Africa.

Many of the Pakistan players have been enjoying high-intensity competition in the Pakistan Super League, so their games should be sharp, but will need to get themselves back into redball frame of mind to defeat a Bangladesh side that is increasingly competitive on home soil.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam (588 runs, ave 73.50) topped the 2026 PSL runs list.
Pakistan’s Shan Masood has scored 46, 20, 44 & 69* in his last 5 innings.
Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto has scored 50* & 105 in his last 2 innings.
Bangladesh’s Mahmudul Hasan Joy has scored 58 & 64 in his last 2 innings.

Head-to-Head

Bangladesh beat Pakistan in both Tests in their two-match series in 2024, but before that Pakistan had won the previous three Tests in 2020 and 2021, two by an innings and one by 8 wickets.

Bangladesh Form

Bangladesh made a clean sweep of their last Test duty, a two-match series against Ireland, winning the 1st Test by an innings and 47 runs and the second by 217 runs.

Mushfiqur Rahim (106 off 214 balls) and Litton Das (128 off 192 balls) starred with the bat as Bangladesh posted 476 off 141 overs. Taijul Islam took 4/76 and 4/104 to spearhead Ireland’s demise.

Hasan Murad offered great support to Islam, taking 2/53 and 4/44 against Ireland. He has taken 3/15 and 1/19 in his last two matches.

Litton Das has been in the runs recently, scoring 46, 76, 21 and 26 in his last five knocks, while Mushfiqur Rahim has posted scores of 46*, 0, 0 and 83 in his last four innings.

Pakistan Form

After beating South Africa by 93 runs in the 1st Test back in October, Pakistan fell to an eight-wicket defeat in the 2nd Test to share the series 1-1. They have lost three and drawn two of their last five Tests, which included a 1-1 series draw with the West Indies.

Babar Azam will always be key to Pakistan’s fortunes with the bat and he has been in brilliant form in the Pakistan Super League. Opener Imam-ul-Haq has been in good form with knocks of 71 and 86 in his last two matches.

Mohammad Rizwan is another batter that Pakistan will be look for runs from after scoring 2 399 runs in 69 Test innings (ave 39.98).

Sajid Khan has been in great form in the domestic red-ball tournament, returning figures of 6/22, 3/38, 3/76, 4/90 and 5/71 in his last five matches. Shaheen Shah Afridi has picked up six wickets in his last five matches in the PSL and has 121 wickets in 33 Tests.

Bangladesh & Pakistan Team News

Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan and Amite Hasan could be in line for a Test debut. Amite Hasan scored his 11th first-class century (162) in his last match while Tanzid Hasan has played over 80 whiteball internationals for Bangladesh and averages 40.72 in first-class cricket.

Pakistan have included four uncapped players in their 16-member squad: Abdullah Fazal, Azan Awais, Amad Butt and Ghazi Ghori.

Bangladesh (possible XI): Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana.

Pakistan (possible XI): Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Verdict

Bangladesh v Pakistan 1st Test

I am backing Pakistan to win. I am also backing Babar Azam to top score for Pakistan.

Najmul Hossain Shanto is a good bet to top score for Bangladesh.

Pakistan Win

Result

@1.49 - 2 Units

Get up to R14,000 (170%)

use promo code BETS

18+. T&Cs apply. The Pantherbet promo code is BETS.

Bet at Pantherbet

Najmul Shanto

Score 58.5 Match Runs

@1.83 - 1 Unit

Get 150% up to R15,000

use promo code BETS

18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Jabula Bets

Babar Azam

Top Match Batter

@5.50 - 1 Unit

Get R15 + R15 Free Spins

+ 150% up to R5,000 (2nd Deposit)

Deposit R50 or more on your first deposit at 10bet and get a welcome gift consisting of a R15 free bet + R15 free spins on Fortune Olympus. If you decide to make a second deposit after that, you will get 150% up to R5,000 Bonus to bet on sports or games. New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply. To activate the bonus, select it from the cashier.

Bet at 10bet

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Top Match Bowler

@7.00 - 1 Unit

Up to R3,000 + 300 Spins

3 Deposit Bonuses

Earn up to R3,000 in bonus funds PLUS 300 Free Spins, on your first three deposits. To get started, register and make a First Deposit *Min R10 and get 100% free up to R1,000 plus 100 free slot spins. | T&Cs apply.

Bet at Sportingbet SA