Afghanistan

Abu Dhabi, October 9, 2026: Afghanistan and Bangladesh have begun their highly anticipated one-off Test at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, opening an important chapter in their UAE cricket tour. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first, backing his team’s batting line-up to make the most of the conditions.

Bangladesh Aim for a Strong Start

Bangladesh have entered the contest with confidence following their recent competitive performances in Test cricket. The team will look to build a substantial first-innings total, with experienced players such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Litton Das and Shanto expected to play important roles.

Openers Shadman Islam and Tanzid Hasan began the innings against Afghanistan’s bowling attack. The pitch was described before play as favourable for batting initially, with the possibility of greater assistance for spinners as the match progresses.

Afghanistan Look to Make Home Conditions Count

Afghanistan, led by Rahmat Shah, will be eager to challenge Bangladesh with disciplined bowling and spin. The squad includes Hashmatullah Shahidi, Sediqullah Atal, Qais Ahmad and experienced fast bowlers.

Afghanistan will hope to take early wickets and prevent Bangladesh from establishing a dominant partnership. The team will also aim to make the most of its familiarity with playing international cricket in the UAE.

Match Details

• Match: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, One-off Test
• Dates: October 9–13, 2026
• Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Bangladesh captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto
• Afghanistan captain: Rahmat Shah
• Toss: Bangladesh won and elected to bat first

The match is part of Afghanistan’s multi-format international programme in the UAE, which also includes an ODI tri-series featuring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe later in October.

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