Pakistan will host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in August this year, though the exact venues are still undecided. Rawalpindi and Multan are the leading candidates to host these fixtures, as reported by local media. Karachi and Lahore are unlikely to be considered due to ongoing upgrades in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are currently in discussions to finalize the venues and schedule for the series, with an announcement expected soon.
Regarding the squad for the Test series, Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood, head coach Jason Gillespie, and the selection committee have started deliberations. There is a possibility that Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi might be rested, while Haris Rauf is not being considered for selection.
Players like Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Salman Ali Agha, and Sarfaraz Ahmed are in the running for the final squad. The fast bowling lineup under consideration includes Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Aamir Jamal.
This series marks Jason Gillespie’s first assignment as head coach of the Pakistan Test team following his appointment in April. It will be Shan Masood’s second assignment as captain, having first led the team in a three-Test series against Australia, which Pakistan lost 3-0. Currently, Masood is playing for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the County Championship.
In recent international performances, Pakistan was eliminated in the initial group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup, while Bangladesh has advanced to the Super 8 stage.
