Tigers look to level series against Pakistan

Bangladesh have narrowed the gap in skills with Pakistan, but they are still some way off acquiring the mental steel needed to turn corners, handle clutch moments and win Tests, reports ESPNcricinfo.

The Dhaka Test is the home side's last chance to pose the visitors a stern challenge and turn things around for themselves.

The Test will begin today (Saturday) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the city. Shakib Al Hasan's return to full fitness should help Bangladesh on many fronts. Taskin Ahmed, meanwhile, will be expected to inject a bit of pace.

Pakistan's approach to difficult situations helped them dominate most of the Chattogram Test. When Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das put together 206 runs for the fifth wicket in the first innings, they responded with a strong showing on the second morning. When Bangladesh bowled Pakistan out for 286 in their first dig, their bowlers again got them back in the game.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali didn't just bowl exciting deliveries to get the wickets, they also put together a bowling partnership that left very little wiggle room for the Bangladesh line-up. Such was their dominance over Bangladesh's top four that the rest of the batting order was left scrambling to compile a big effort.

Abid Ali was Pakistan's batting enforcer in Chattogram. Their gamble to try out newcomer Abdullah Shafique also paid off handsomely, as he struck two fifties in his debut Test. Babar Azam and the rest of the batting order will look to make amends for not contributing much in the first Test.

Bangladesh's batting is their major concern. The top order combusted easily in both innings, which included captain Mominul Haque. Shakib's inclusion will bolster the batting that was heavily dependent on Mushfiqur and Liton.

The bowling, too, will be spin-heavy now that Shakib is back, but how they balance it with pacers is also a big question. The bowling composition will be an early indication of the type of pitch that curator Gamini Silva might dish out.

Shakib and Taskin are set to return to the XI while Mahmudul Hasan Joy could make his Test debut in Saif Hassan's vacated spot.

Bangladesh (probable): Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain

Pakistan are likely to be unchanged.

Pakistan (probable): Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (capt), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sajid Khan.