Shaheen moves focus to Mirpur World Test Championship contest

Pakistan are set to take on Bangladesh away from home in two Tests, as they look to move up from fifth place in the current ICC World Test Championship Standings.

While Bangladesh’s historic Test series win over Pakistan in 2024 has remained a major talking point ahead of the contest, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi made it clear the visitors are not looking back.

Pakistan were dealt a big blow back in 2024, when Bangladesh cleanswept them in a two-match series at home.

"The past is the past. Personally, I do not want to dwell on it," said Shaheen.

"Our goal is to focus on the present and the future. We are preparing to win the (World Test) Championship, not just a single series. As a team, we have big goals and we are ready."

The Pakistan players for the tour have spent the last several weeks preparing for the transition back into red-ball cricket, with players balancing their workloads during the Pakistan Super League.

"Our last series against South Africa in Pakistan was a long time ago. As a team, we are ready. We had preparation time in Pakistan and now here for the last two to three days. We are looking forward to the challenge," Afridi added.

"This period is very important for us as a Test team. We are playing a long season of Test cricket. We are focusing on how to prepare for the first Test. We hope the conditions suit us so we can play our best cricket here.

"We were already preparing during the PSL. After matches, we bowled extra overs on the side wickets. We worked on our bowling workloads to switch quickly to Tests. In the four or five days here, we tried to bowl around 25 overs to get used to the format."

Afridi also underlined Pakistan’s ambitions in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle. Pakistan have played two Tests so far in the current cycle, with a win and defeat to their name against the Proteas.

"Playing against any team in their home conditions is always tough. We are not just looking at one series; we are focusing on the World Test Championship," he said.

“Our goal is to qualify for the final and win it. We will give our best to achieve that. The whole team understands that we need to play our best in the Test format.”

Bangladesh, meanwhile, are also eager to move on from their memorable 2024 triumph and focus on creating fresh success at home.

Head coach Phil Simmons said his side are treating the upcoming series as a new challenge despite the confidence gained from their previous success.

"We want to make new history. It doesn't matter what happened then. Yes, you keep it in your mind because it gives you a boost, but this is a new game and a new place," Simmons said.

"We are in Bangladesh now, not Pakistan. We have to put those things behind us and focus on Friday."

Bangladesh last played Test cricket against Sri Ireland in November 2025, winning two Tests out of two, but Simmons believes the adjustment back into the format will be smooth for his players, after recent success in the shorter formats.

"It is more of a mental shift. At the same time, quite a few players here have not played white-ball cricket recently.

“They have been working with the red ball for the last couple of months, so I think it will be an easier shift than you think.

The first Test begins on Friday, May 8 in Mirpur.

Squad: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Fixtures:

First Test: May 8-12, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium

Second Test: May 16-20, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium