MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test match against Bangladesh, set to be played from tomorrow, Friday, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee.
“The team’s medical panel is currently assessing his condition. Further updates will be shared in due course,” the PCB wrote.
The first of the two matches – part of the ICC World Test Championship will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May, while Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test, which will be played from 16 to 20 May.
The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.
In the current World Test Championship (WTC) standings, Bangladesh are placed eighth, having registered one defeat and one draw from two matches, with a win percentage of 16.67.
Pakistan, meanwhile, sits fifth with one win and one loss, holding 12 points and a 50 percent win ratio.
The Pakistan squad, captained by Shan Masood, arrived in Dhaka on May 3, 2026, and began training sessions at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh Test Series schedule
1st Test 8 – 12 May 2026 Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
2nd Test 16 – 20 May 2026 Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
Squads
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Bangladesh (first Test): Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, and Amite Hasan.
