BAN vs PAK Live Score, 1st Test Day 1: Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque formed a composed and crucial partnership to guide Bangladesh National Cricket Team to 101/2 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan National Cricket Team in Mirpur on Friday.
After the Pakistan captain won the toss and opted to field first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the visitors soon struck with their pace attack. However, Bangladesh gradually recovered thanks to an unbeaten partnership between captain Shanto and veteran batsman Mominul, who had 70 runs.
Shanto looked positive throughout his innings and went into lunch unbeaten on 39 off 50 deliveries while Mominul remained solid on 31. Their partnership ensured Bangladesh regained control after a difficult start against the new ball.
Pakistan’s opening fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was particularly menacing in the opening spell, producing an impressive move that unsettled both Bangladeshi openers. Mahmudul Hasan struggled to cope with the wobbly deliveries and after surviving an early scare ended up falling behind the keeper in the 8th over.
The second breakthrough came soon after when Shadman Islam was caught at first slip for 13, reducing Bangladesh to 31/2 and giving Pakistan an early boost.
But the experienced duo of Shanto and Mominul responded calmly, rotating strikes effectively and punishing loose deliveries to stabilize the innings for the remainder of the morning session. Their stand not only halted Pakistan’s momentum but also put Bangladesh in a strong position heading into the post-lunch phase.
Bangladesh were boosted ahead of the match by the return of bowler Taskin Ahmed, who appeared in the playing eleven for the first time since the West Indies series in December 2024. Meanwhile, Pakistan entered the match without star batsman Babar Azam, who was ruled out with a left knee injury prior to the start of the series.
The visitors also handed Test debuts to Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal as they looked to start their World Test Championship campaign strongly.
Pakistan arrived in Bangladesh after drawing the two-match Test series 1-1 against the South African national cricket team last October, while Bangladesh entered the series high on confidence after defeating the Ireland cricket team 2-0 in the home Test series in November.
The second and final Test of the series is scheduled to begin on May 16 in Sylhet.
