Bangladesh look to maintain momentum in Afghanistan Test

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is looking for further progress in the longest format when his side takes on Afghanistan in a one-off Test in Abu Dhabi from Friday.

Bangladesh made a major statement in August by defeating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin. Although they lost the second Test and drew the series 1-1, the result was widely regarded as a significant step forward for the team. The victory also moved Bangladesh up to fourth in the nine-team World Test Championship (WTC) standings, strengthening their hopes of reaching next year’s final.

While the Afghanistan Test does not carry WTC points, Shanto said Bangladesh remain determined to continue their development.

“We had a very good series in Australia, but that is in the past now,” Shanto said at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday. “This is a new opponent and different conditions, so we have to keep improving.”

A victory in Abu Dhabi would provide another confidence boost ahead of Bangladesh’s busy Test schedule, which includes a home series against the West Indies later this month, a tour of South Africa in November and a home series against England in February next year.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be aiming to strengthen their Test record under new captain Rahmat Shah. Since receiving Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played 13 Tests, winning four, losing eight and drawing one.

The two teams last met in a Test in Dhaka three years ago, when Bangladesh secured a massive 546-run victory. Afghanistan, however, won their first Test against Bangladesh by 224 runs in 2019.

Afghanistan will be without star spinner Rashid Khan, who was left out on medical advice to allow him to rest his back ahead of upcoming white-ball commitments.

Bangladesh will also miss promising fast bowler Nahid Rana, who is recovering from a side strain and will sit out his second consecutive series.

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch is expected to favour spin as the match progresses, with slow conditions likely to bring the spinners into play early. Temperatures are also forecast to reach around 40°C (104°F), adding another challenge for both teams.