Bangladesh are set to host West Indies in the opening match of their two-Test series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, starting on October 28. The hosts enter this fixture following a turbulent build-up and a difficult tour of the UAE, while the visitors arrive aiming to finish their World Test Championship cycle strongly.
- The first Test begins on October 28 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, with potential rain forecasted for the opening three days.
- Bangladesh recently dismissed their batting coach Mohammad Ashraful following a disappointing tri-series performance in the UAE.
- West Indies red-ball players prepared with a training camp in Chennai after their white-ball commitments concluded in India.
- Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim stands 118 runs away from reaching 1,000 runs in Test matches against West Indies.
Team News and Preparations
Bangladesh face selection dilemmas regarding their bowling attack and fitness updates. Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das returns following a hip injury that sidelined him during the UAE tour, while pacers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam vie for a spot in the starting lineup alongside Hasan Mahmud and Ebadot Hossain. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will rely heavily on experienced campaigners like Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim to anchor the batting lineup.
On the other side, West Indies arrive with high confidence and a settled squad under captain Roston Chase. The visitors boast a potent pace attack featuring Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, and Shamar Joseph, complemented by vice-captain Jomel Warrican leading the spin options. Joshua Da Silva takes over behind the stumps, while uncapped spinner Joshua Bishop and all-rounder Shamar Springer remain options for the final XI.
Pitch Conditions and Historical Context
The Mirpur pitch is anticipated to offer assistance to both fast bowlers and spinners, moving away from traditional low-and-slow subcontinental tracks. West Indies coach Daren Sammy noted the favorable sporting conditions upon inspecting the venue. Historically, West Indies have maintained a dominant record against Bangladesh in this format, while the home side seeks only their second Test series victory against the Caribbean side since 2018.
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