RAWALPINDI: The glittering trophy for the Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh was unveiled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here.

The two-match series part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) will run from August 21 to September 4 with both matches to be played at the same venue. The first Test match will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21 August, while the second Test match will be played from 30 August to 3 September. Pakistan are currently ranked sixth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. They have played two away series in the championship, winning 2-0 against Sri Lanka and losing 3-0 to Australia. Pakistan are scheduled to play nine Test matches this season, their busiest Test season since 1998-99. Seven of these Test matches will be played at home, including two against Bangladesh, three against England in October and two against West Indies in January next year. The two away Test matches are against South Africa, which will be played in December/January. The first Test match against Bangladesh marks Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s first international assignment since his appointment in April this year. It will also be Shan Masood’s first Test match as captain on home soil, embarking on a new era in red-ball cricket for the team. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed gratitude towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and acknowledged the importance of the series for both teams.

“We are grateful to the PCB for helping us get some practice here in Lahore. We had a couple of sessions there and I am hopeful the players will do well in the series,” said Shanto.