Bangladesh will welcome the West Indies for a two-Test series beginning in October 2026. Both teams will enter the contest at very different stages of their campaigns in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
Let’s see major information about Bangladesh’s upcoming two-Test WTC series against the West Indies.
When will the WTC Series Begin?
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that the first Test will begin in Mirpur on October 28, 2026. Bangladesh’s cricket governing body revealed further that the second and final Test will be played in Sylhet from November 5. The series is part of the 2025-27 WTC cycle and could have major consequences for Bangladesh if they hope to reach the championship final.
Bangladesh Enter the Series in Fourth Place
Bangladesh have given themselves a realistic opportunity to challenge for a place in the WTC final after an encouraging start to the current championship cycle.
The Tigers are fourth in the latest WTC standings with a 55.56 percentage of points. They have played six Tests, won three, lost two and drew one so far. Their campaign included a 2-0 home series victory over Pakistan and a 1-0 away series defeat against Sri Lanka before their recent trip to Australia.
Australia Result Strengthened Bangladesh’s Position
Bangladesh’s position improved greatly after their memorable Test series in Australia.
The Tigers secured their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil when they defeated the hosts by nine wickets in Darwin in August. Australia recovered in the second Test with an innings-and-51-run victory in Mackay to tie the 2-match series.
The result gave Bangladesh valuable WTC points and strengthened belief that the team can compete against stronger opponents away from home.
West Indies Have a Difficult WTC Campaign
The West Indies will arrive in Bangladesh much further down the standings.
The Caribbean side are currently eighth in the nine-team WTC table with two wins, eight defeats and two draws from 12 Tests. Their points percentage stands at 20.83, a place above the struggling Pakistan Test team in current standings.
The team endured a particularly difficult start to the championship cycle after losing five consecutive Tests before eventually securing its first victory against Sri Lanka.
Windies Have No Other Series in This Cycle After BAN Tour
The Bangladesh tour is important for the West Indies because it will be their last assignment of the current WTC cycle.
The Caribbean side have no other WTC fixtures remaining after the two Tests against Bangladesh after playing 12 matches so far. That means the team has little to no opportunity to improve their final position before the championship cycle concludes.
West Indies Will Arrive Before the Tests
The visitors are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on October 18, 2026 before going into preparation for the first Test.
They will also play a 3-day warm-up match at the Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka from October 22 to 24, 2026. The practice fixture should provide the touring side an opportunity to adjust to local conditions and assess players ahead of the Test series.
The preparation will be important because the West Indies will enter the series after a demanding international schedule and will need to adapt quickly to Bangladesh’s conditions.
First Test Begins in Mirpur
The first Test will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur from October 28 to November 1, 2026.
Mirpur has regularly hosted Bangladesh’s major Test assignments and will provide the setting for the opening contest of the series. The venue provides Bangladesh a chance to begin the home leg of their WTC campaign on familiar territory.
A positive result in the first match would immediately put Bangladesh in a strong position ahead of the move to Sylhet.
Second Test Moves to Sylhet
The teams will then travel to Sylhet for the second and final Test. The match is scheduled for November 5 to 9, 2026 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Both teams will need to manage their squads carefully with only a four-day gap between the scheduled conclusion of the opening Test and the start of the second.
Bangladesh Have the Bigger Incentive
Bangladesh will enter the contest with a far greater incentive from a championship-table perspective.
The Tigers are currently among the teams still in contention for a top-two finish, and their remaining WTC schedule consists of the two Tests against West Indies, two against South Africa and two at home against England. That leaves six matches in which Bangladesh can continue to accumulate points.
A strong home result against the West Indies could offer an important platform before Bangladesh face South Africa later in the year.
