Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test 2026 delivered one of the most dominant home performances in Bangladesh’s Test history. The Tigers crushed Pakistan by 104 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on May 12, completing a stunning final-session victory that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
It is now Bangladesh’s third consecutive Test win over Pakistan — a feat that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The Tigers are no longer underdogs against their Asian neighbours. They are, unmistakably, the better side right now.
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Nahid Rana Tears Apart Pakistan’s Chase
Bangladesh set Pakistan a target of 268 to win. What followed was a relentless, clinical bowling masterclass that left the visitors with nowhere to hide.
Nahid Rana was simply unplayable. The young pace sensation removed Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in a devastating burst, finishing with remarkable figures of 5 for 40 from just 9.5 overs. It was the kind of spell that changes careers — and potentially series.
Rana’s ability to move the ball both ways at genuine pace made him near-impossible to counter. Pakistan’s middle order, which had contributed so admirably in the first innings, simply had no answer to his aggression and control in the second.
Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam chipped in with two wickets each, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz — who had already bagged a five-for in Pakistan’s first innings — claimed one more to complete a disciplined team bowling effort.
Pakistan’s second innings total of 163 all out in 52.5 overs told the full, brutal story of their collapse.
Debutant Fazal Fights Hard but Falls Short
Pakistan’s only real resistance in the fourth innings came from debutant Abdullah Fazal. The youngster scored a composed 66 off 113 balls, striking 11 boundaries and showing remarkable temperament for a player making his Test debut under intense pressure.
Fazal also became just the sixth Pakistan batter to record half-centuries in both innings on debut — a statistic that reflects genuine class. His 60 in the first innings had already impressed observers, and his second-innings knock gave Pakistan a fighting chance before Bangladesh’s bowlers ultimately prevailed.
After his dismissal — caught by the DRS off Taijul Islam’s sharp spin — Pakistan’s lower order folded quickly. Salman Ali Agha contributed a useful 26, but no other batter offered meaningful support against a hunting Bangladesh attack.
At 119 for three, Pakistan were still in the contest. Once Fazal fell in the first over after tea, however, the game was effectively up.
Shanto Leads Bangladesh With Bat and Armband
The undisputed star of the Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test 2026 was captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. He scored 101 in the first innings and followed it up with a gritty, influential 87 in the second, earning the Player of the Match award with total conviction.
Shanto narrowly missed becoming only the fourth batter in history — after Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, and David Warner — to score twin hundreds in a Test on three separate occasions. It was a fine margin, but his 87 was every bit as valuable to Bangladesh’s cause as a century would have been.
He was eventually dismissed by Noman Ali for 87, lbw attempting a reverse sweep. By that point, Bangladesh had already set Pakistan an imposing enough target. A true captain’s performance from start to finish.
“Very happy. Proud of all the guys, the way we played. We have been working hard the last few months. Really happy the way we played,” Shanto said after collecting his Player of the Match award — the calm, assured words of a leader who backed his team and saw them deliver magnificently.
Bangladesh’s First Innings Firepower Set the Tone
Bangladesh posted a commanding 413 in their first innings, with Shanto’s century laying a rock-solid foundation. In the second dig, Mominul Haque contributed a vital 56 before Bangladesh declared on 240 for nine, with Hasan Ali picking up three wickets to prevent a more commanding declaration total.
Pakistan had responded with genuine fight in their own first innings, posting 386. Azan Awais led the way with a classy 103 — the only century of the match for the visitors. Mohammad Rizwan hit 59, Salman Ali Agha made 58, and debutant Fazal chipped in with 60 to take Pakistan surprisingly close to Bangladesh’s total.
Despite that collective batting effort, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the outstanding performer with the ball, returning exceptional figures of 5 for 102 from 38 tight, probing overs. It was a masterclass in disciplined off-spin bowling on a Dhaka surface that deteriorated steadily across five days.
What’s Next: Bangladesh Aim to Seal the Series in Sylhet
Bangladesh lead this two-match series 1–0. Both sides now travel to the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium for the second and final Test, beginning May 16.
Bangladesh will be hungry to seal the series and further cement their reputation as a formidable Test nation on home soil. For Pakistan, this is a genuine must-win. Shan Masood’s side must regroup quickly, address the fragility of their second-innings batting, and find answers to Bangladesh’s well-rounded attack — or face the humiliation of a third consecutive series defeat to the Tigers.
Match Summary:
Bangladesh 413 & 240/9d beat Pakistan 386 & 163 by 104 runs
Player of the Match: Najmul Hossain Shanto (101 & 87)
Next: 2nd Test — Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, May 16–20, 2026