Najmul Hossain Shanto Makes History with Century Against Pakistan

Najmul Hossain Shanto made history by scoring a century on the first day of the Test series against Pakistan, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim's record for the most centuries as Bangladesh captain. The team ended the day at 301/4, with Shanto's impressive 101 runs leading the charge. Meanwhile, Pakistan's lineup is missing star player Babar Azam due to injury. This match promises to be an exciting contest as both teams vie for dominance.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 8, 2026, 18:54 IST

Shanto's Historic Achievement

On May 8, during the first day of the Test series against Pakistan at Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, Najmul Hossain Shanto made headlines by scoring a century. This remarkable feat allowed him to surpass Mushfiqur Rahim, becoming the Bangladesh captain with the highest number of Test centuries. Shanto has now achieved this milestone five times while leading the Test squad, while Mushfiqur had four centuries as captain, and former captain Mominul Haque managed three.

Shanto took over as Bangladesh's Test captain in 2024, briefly stepping down in June 2025 before being reinstated in November.

Bangladesh's Strong Start

Bangladesh Ends Day 1 at 301/4

Thanks to Shanto's century, Bangladesh concluded the first day with a score of 301/4. The team faced early setbacks, losing Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam with just 31 runs on the board. However, Shanto and former captain Mominul Haque formed a solid partnership, adding 170 runs for the third wicket. Mominul contributed significantly with a score of 91 off 200 balls before being dismissed by Noman Ali.

Shanto's innings came to an end at 101 runs off 130 balls, with Mohammad Abbas taking his wicket in the 74th over. Currently, Mushfiqur Rahim is batting at 48 off 104 balls, alongside Litton Das, who has scored 8 runs off 35 balls. The team aims to surpass the 450-run mark before being bowled out.

Pakistan's Lineup Without Babar Azam

No Babar Azam in Pakistan's Playing XI

Notably, Babar Azam is absent from Pakistan's playing XI for this opening match due to a knee injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the medical team is evaluating his condition and will provide updates as necessary.

Playing XIs for Both Teams

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain

Pakistan: Shan Masood (Captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas