West Indies opened this World Test Championship cycle with five straight defeats. Bangladesh sat fourth in the standings in September. That gap sets up Bangladesh vs West Indies, a two-match Test series that starts at Mirpur on October 28, 2026.
The tourists arrive with a point to prove. Bangladesh want to protect a healthy spot in the table. Here’s the full Bangladesh vs West Indies schedule, the numbers behind both teams and the players worth watching.
Bangladesh vs West Indies Schedule and Venues
The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the fixtures on September 8, 2026. The plan is simple: one warm-up game, then two Tests in two cities.
West Indies play a three-day tour match in Dhaka from October 22. That gives the squad time to acclimatise to local conditions before the opener.
Warm-up games rarely grab headlines. Still, three days in the middle give batters time at the crease and give selectors a look at form. Most touring sides treat them as a chance to settle in.
Match dates and venues
| Fixture | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Tour match | October 22 to 24 | Dhaka |
| 1st Test | October 28 to November 1 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur |
| 2nd Test | November 5 to 9 | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium |
Start times
Play begins at 10:00 AM local time. That’s 4:00 AM GMT, or 9:30 AM in India.
The Sylhet listing shows lunch at 12:00 PM, tea at 2:40 PM and close of play at 5:00 PM. Both Tests are scheduled for five days, and the opener runs October 28 to November 1.
Why Bangladesh vs West Indies Matters for the World Test Championship
Both matches count toward the 2025-27 World Test Championship. Nobody is playing a friendly here.
Bangladesh were fourth in the table when the schedule came out. West Indies sat eighth in a nine-team field. That’s a four-place gap, and it makes every session count.
For West Indies, the climb starts with results in Asia. For Bangladesh, the job is to turn home advantage into points while rivals below them wait to pounce.
Two-Test series leave little room to recover. A shaky first morning in Mirpur could shape the whole fortnight. That’s my read rather than a stat, but most fans will recognise the feeling.
Bangladesh’s Test Cycle So Far
Bangladesh have collected mixed results. They beat Pakistan 2-0 at home, then lost 1-0 away in Sri Lanka.
Australia came next. Bangladesh’s recent draw there included their first Test win on Australian soil. Few sides can say that, and it tells you the batting and bowling groups can handle pressure.
Before West Indies land, Bangladesh play a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi from October 9. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads that squad. It’s a handy tune-up for a bigger home series.
The ODI tri-series in the UAE, which finishes on October 23, also features Bangladesh. The Test group should have a few days to reset after that trip.
West Indies’ Slow Start and Recovery
West Indies lost their first five Tests of the cycle. Those defeats included a 3-0 home loss to Australia and a 2-0 beating in India.
Then Sri Lanka visited the Caribbean. West Indies won that series 1-0, and it was their first victory of the cycle.
One win doesn’t fix a cycle. Away Tests in Asia have been the toughest assignments, and the India series proved it. Bangladesh will test them again.
Still, the Sri Lanka result matters. It shows the squad can finish a series on the right side of the scoreline.
Bangladesh vs West Indies: Recent Meetings
The Test history is thin, so recent form across formats fills the gap. Bangladesh vs West Indies has produced swings in both directions. Start with 2022 in the Caribbean. West Indies won the two-match Test series 2-0, taking the second Test by ten wickets. Kyle Mayers was named player of the series.
Fast forward to December 2024. Bangladesh won two T20Is in the West Indies, scoring 129/7 to beat 102, then 189/7 to beat 109.
October 2025 flipped the script in Bangladesh. West Indies won all three T20Is on that tour:
- October 27, 2025: West Indies 165/3 beat Bangladesh 149
- October 29, 2025: West Indies 149/9 beat Bangladesh 135/8
- October 31, 2025: West Indies 152/5 beat Bangladesh 151
That last result was a one-run margin on the scoreboard. Bangladesh scored 151 and still lost by five wickets.
My view: white-ball results rarely carry over to Test cricket. Red-ball patience is a different test, so treat these numbers as context, not a forecast.
What Each Side Needs From the Two Tests
Every series asks something different of the two camps. Bangladesh vs West Indies is no exception.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh vs West Indies, the hosts want a clean start to the home season. A series win would back up their place in the top half of the table. That’s the obvious goal, and it’s what the schedule rewards.
The Afghanistan Test squad pairs Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque with Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam and Tawhid Hridoy. How that group performs in Abu Dhabi will shape the selection talk before Mirpur.
West Indies
In Bangladesh vs West Indies, the visitors need proof that their first win of the cycle wasn’t a one-off. That victory came at home against Sri Lanka. A result in Bangladesh would carry more weight.
In my opinion, even a drawn Test would count as progress for a side that started with five losses. A series win would be a statement.
Expected Players and Squads
As of October 8, 2026, neither side’s Test squad for this series was confirmed in the sources checked. Treat the names below as expected, not official.
Bangladesh: likely core
These names come from the squad picked for the Afghanistan Test. A similar group could carry over to Mirpur.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain)
- Litton Das (wicketkeeper)
- Mushfiqur Rahim
- Mominul Haque
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Taijul Islam
- Shoriful Islam
- Hasan Mahmud
West Indies: names to watch
These players were part of West Indies squads for last October’s tour of Bangladesh. Their Test squad is not confirmed, so check Cricket West Indies for the final 15.
- Roston Chase
- Gudakesh Motie
- Jayden Seales
- Shamar Joseph
- Brandon King
- Shai Hope
How to Follow Bangladesh vs West Indies From India
Early starts suit Indian fans. Bangladesh runs 30 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time, so everything shifts back by half an hour.
Using the Sylhet listing, the day looks like this in India:
- First ball: 9:30 AM
- Lunch: 11:30 AM to 12:10 PM
- Tea: 2:10 PM to 2:30 PM
- Close of play: 4:30 PM
Broadcast and streaming details weren’t part of the board’s announcement. Check the official listings nearer the first Test.
The gap between the two Tests is short. The opener ends on November 1, and the second begins on November 5. That leaves three clear days for travel and recovery, which matters for fast bowlers.
Questions That Could Decide the Series
Every two-Test series comes down to a few moments. Here are the questions worth asking before the first ball.
Can West Indies’ batters handle long spells in Bangladeshi conditions? Their first innings in Mirpur will answer that fast.
Who sets the tone with the new ball? In a short series, an early breakthrough often decides which side gets to play with confidence.
Will Bangladesh’s spinners and seamers share the workload, or will one group carry it? Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are the obvious spin options. Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud lead the pace group.
Does West Indies’ warm-up game in Dhaka help? Three days is short, but it beats arriving cold. Teams that adjust quickly often avoid a first-Test collapse.
Key Takeaways
- Schedule: Bangladesh vs West Indies is two Tests, Mirpur (October 28 to November 1) then Sylhet (November 5 to 9).
- Start time: 10:00 AM local, which is 9:30 AM in India.
- Table position: Bangladesh were fourth and West Indies eighth in the WTC table.
- Recent form: West Indies won all three T20Is in Bangladesh in October 2025.
- Squads: Test squads for Bangladesh vs West Indies weren’t confirmed as of October 8, 2026.
- Gap between Tests: Three clear days separate the end of the Mirpur Test and the start of the Sylhet Test.
Also Read,
Bangladesh Cricket Team October 2026 Match Schedule
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh 2026: One-Off Test, Squads and ODI Rematch
FAQs
When does the first Bangladesh vs West Indies Test begin?
The first Test starts on October 28, 2026, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Where is the second Test being played?
The second Test runs from November 5 to 9 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Is this series part of the World Test Championship?
Yes, both matches count toward the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
What time does play start in India?
Play starts at 10:00 AM in Bangladesh, which is 9:30 AM Indian Standard Time.
How many Tests are in the Bangladesh vs West Indies series?
The series has two Tests, with a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka before the first one.
Conclusion
Bangladesh vs West Indies pairs a top-half side with one still recovering from a poor start. Mirpur hosts the opener on October 28, and Sylhet follows on November 5. Squads are still to be confirmed, but the stakes are already clear.