Khulna: With a sweet memory of winning the ODI series 3-0 and lone T20 match 1-0, the high flying Bangladesh team will face Pakistan in the first match of the two-match Test series beginning on Tuesday at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, hoping to maintain the winning run.

The match will start at 10:00am Bangladesh time.

Mushfiqur Rahim-led Bengal Tigers are looking for their maiden victory against Misbah-ul Haq’s Pakistan after losing seven consecutives Tests in last 14 years.

Addressing a pre-match press conference at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who took the captaincy from Mashrafe after five months, said he wants to take the field (on Tuesday) for a win, as tendency in mind for draw will have a negative impact on the team.

‘If you play with draw in mind, you will be defensive. The opponent can understand that pretty quickly. I think we should play our natural game; the batsmen should be allowed to bat freely while the bowlers should be attacking. We are thinking of winning, and we have a number of match-winners.’ Mushfiqur said.

Confident Mushiqur Rahim further said, ‘wicket of Khulna is very good, our record in Khulna also good, our morale is now very high, so it will not very difficult for us to score 600 plus runs and to take 20 wickets.’

Mushfiqur said that Pakistan, the number 4 team in test cricket, will have the four successive losses in Dhaka in mind when they play the first Test in Khulna, despite having the additional experience and calmness of Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and inform ODI captain Azhar Ali.

Bangladesh Coach Chandika Hathurusingha said that the break from captaincy in the limited-overs cricket gives Mushfiqur breathing space to bat freely and for his Test captaincy.

Hathurusingha said. ‘Mashrafe is doing well in ODIs as captain and Mushfiqur is doing a great job in the Test team. I think they get time to reflect on what they are doing. Mushi is playing both formats, but it gives time for him to be refreshed and refocused on Test cricket.’

Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq praised Bangladesh for their brilliant performances and said, ‘Bangladesh is now playing good cricket, they beat us in ODI and T20 format, but Test cricket iscompletely different, so we like start the match in fresh mind forgetting the debacles.

Soumya Sarkar is likely to make Test debut on Tuesday. Imrul Kayes may open with Tamim Iqbal and among the seamers, Shahadat Hossain might be picked ahead of Mohammad Shahid.

Bangladesh (Probable): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shahadat Hossain/Mohammad Shahid.

In case of Pakistan, Sami Aslam is likely to pip Babar Azam for the opening position, while Haris Sohail would have to wait his chance now that Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq are back. Pakistan are also expected to pick two pace bowlers, which leaves no place for Imran Khan. Zulfiqar Babar could play ahead of Yasir Shah.

Pakistan (Probable): Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar.