Match: 1st Test, Ireland tour of Bangladesh 2025
Date: November 11-15, 2025
Venue: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
Start Time: 9:00 AM local time (9:30 AM Bangladesh Time)
Toss: Not yet conducted
Weather: Clear skies, 23°C temperature, 89% humidity, 0% chance of rain – perfect conditions for Test cricket
Probable Playing XIs
Bangladesh (Likely XI – Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- Shadman Islam
- Mahmudul Hasan Joy
- Mominul Haque
- Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Mushfiqur Rahim
- Litton Das
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Taijul Islam
- Hasan Murad
- Ebadot Hossain
- Hasan Mahmud
Ireland (Likely XI – Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- Cade Carmichael/Stephen Doheny
- Andy Balbirnie
- Curtis Campher
- Harry Tector
- Paul Stirling
- Lorcan Tucker
- Andy McBrine
- Barry McCarthy
- Craig Young
- Gavin Hoey
- Matthew Humphreys
Note: Ireland’s lineup includes uncapped players like Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, and legspinner Gavin Hoey who are prime candidates for debuts.
Players to Watch
| Team | Batters | Bowlers |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Shadman Islam (Test average 40.57 in 2025), Mahmudul Hasan Joy (consistent form) | Taijul Islam (experienced spinner), Hasan Mahmud (pace with bounce) |
| Ireland | Harry Tector (key middle-order batter), Paul Stirling (experienced campaigner) | Barry McCarthy (lead pacer), Andy McBrine (500+ Test runs, 25+ wickets) |
What to Expect
Bangladesh will start as favorites on home soil, but both teams face similar challenges – lack of recent Test match preparation. The hosts haven’t played Test cricket since June, while Ireland has featured in just one Test in 2025.
Key Factors:
Bangladesh’s Strengths: The pitch at Sylhet offers some bounce, which should help pace bowlers like Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud. With experienced batters like Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das in the middle order, Bangladesh has the firepower. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto continues leading the Test side after initially stepping down in June.
Ireland’s Challenge: Coming to Bangladesh with limited preparation is tough. They’re bringing uncapped players, which shows their squad lacks experience. However, Ireland can surprise everyone if their newcomers combine well with experienced players like Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, and Curtis Campher.
Venue Stats: Teams batting first at Sylhet average 266 runs, which has been enough to win three out of four Tests played here. The pitch has bounce and helps both pace and spin bowling as the match progresses.
Prediction
Bangladesh should win this match given their home advantage and better preparation. However, Ireland has shown fighting spirit in the past and could make this contest interesting. Expect a result within four days with Bangladesh’s spin attack playing a crucial role.
Predicted Winner: Bangladesh
Match Result: Bangladesh to win by 100+ runs or 6+ wickets