Pakistan Dismiss ‘Revenge’ Narrative

Pakistan captain Shan Masood has rejected the notion of seeking “revenge” against Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming Test series, choosing instead to emphasise respect for the opposition and focus on present performance. His remarks came at a pre-match press conference in Mirpur, on the eve of the first Test.

The question of retribution has resurfaced due to the events of two years ago, when Bangladesh secured a historic 2–0 Test series victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. That result marked Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win against Pakistan, making it a significant milestone in their cricketing history. However, Masood made it clear that such past outcomes do not define Pakistan’s current approach.

“We do not use words like ‘revenge’ from our side,” Masood said. “The way Bangladesh prepared and played in 2024, they deserve credit. Even when we were in strong positions—for example, when they were six wickets down for 26—they showed the skill and ability to fight back and win a Test match.”

A day earlier, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had spoken about broader ambitions, including the aim of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final. Pakistan’s record in the competition, however, has been modest. Across the three completed cycles of the Championship so far, they have not finished higher than fifth place and ended the most recent cycle at the bottom of the standings.

Masood adopted a more measured stance, stressing the importance of addressing immediate challenges. “The most important thing is to stay in the present and respect the situation,” he said. “We are playing against Bangladesh, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. We cannot look too far ahead; we have to progress step by step. Every team dreams of playing the final and winning the trophy, but our entire focus right now is on the Bangladesh series.”

Pakistan will also need to adapt to conditions in Mirpur, where the pitch is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. While Pakistan’s pace attack is often regarded as a key strength, Bangladesh’s bowling unit has also drawn recognition in recent times.

Masood acknowledged this, stating, “Their bowling attack is extremely strong; from what I have seen, it is probably their best attack. We will not compare the two bowling units, because both sides have quality bowlers.”

The Pakistan captain expressed confidence in his own squad, which consists of 16 players and is considered balanced across departments. He highlighted the team’s ability to compete in varied conditions and reiterated that consistent performance over the course of the two-match series would be decisive.

“Our squad has its own strengths, and we assess situations based on our skills and perspective,” Masood said. “We are happy with the group we have brought here. The aim now is to play good cricket over the ten days of this series. The team that performs better across that period will win.”

Key details of the series are outlined below:

As the series begins, Pakistan’s approach reflects a focus on execution rather than sentiment, with emphasis placed firmly on present performance rather than past results.