Bangladesh and Ireland reunite in Sylhet as Test cricket returns to the venue, with the hosts playing their first red-ball match in five months. The series offers both sides a chance to regain form and reestablish rhythm in the longest format.
Bangladesh will lean on their experienced spin attack, led by Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, while the seamers—Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud—could exploit Sylhet’s slight bounce. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads a batting lineup that includes Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das.
Ireland arrive with a relatively inexperienced squad, featuring four uncapped players, including top-order batters Cade Carmichael and Stephen Doheny, allrounder Jordan Neill, and left-arm seamer Liam McCarthy. Andy Balbirnie, along with Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker, and allrounder Andy McBrine, will carry the bulk of responsibility. McBrine remains Ireland’s key allrounder with six-for history in Sylhet from 2023.
Probable Bangladesh XI: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Murad, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud.
Probable Ireland XI: Cade Carmichael/Stephen Doheny, Andy Balbirnie (c), Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys.
Batting first has historically proven advantageous in Sylhet, with teams averaging 266 runs in the first innings and winning three out of four Tests at the venue. Bangladesh will also watch milestones: Taijul Islam is nine wickets shy of Shakib Al Hasan’s all-time record of 246, and Mominul Haque is aiming to end a century drought that stretches back to September last year.
The series sets up an intriguing contest of experience versus youth as both sides seek to reestablish themselves in Test cricket.
