Bangladesh Face Afghanistan Test Challenge in Abu Dhabi Heat

Bangladesh are set to return to Test cricket with a challenging battle against Afghanistan in the intense heat of Abu Dhabi.

The Test will begin at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday at 12:00pm Bangladesh time. The match is being hosted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), but because Afghanistan are still unable to host international cricket at home, the UAE has once again been chosen as the venue.

The match is also historic for Bangladesh. After playing 161 Tests, they will make their first appearance in a Test match at a neutral venue.

Heat will not be an excuse

The extreme UAE heat has been a regular topic during Bangladesh’s training sessions. Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim even joked about the temperature, saying it was “only 40 degrees” and that a blanket might be needed.

Conditions in Abu Dhabi are similarly hot, but captain Najmul Hossain Shanto does not want the weather to become an excuse.

Shanto believes the team has prepared well and must deal with the conditions as professional cricketers. He also expects the pitch to be slightly slow but believes it could still offer good conditions for batting.

Bangladesh’s batting under pressure

There are some concerns surrounding Bangladesh’s batting lineup.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim scored a century in the first Test of the Australia tour but has struggled for runs since then. Litton Das was dismissed for ducks in all three innings of that series, while experienced batter Mominul Haque has also been short of significant scores recently.

Afghanistan are expected to test Bangladesh with their wrist-spin options. Qais Ahmad is joined in the squad by another leg-spinner, Khalil Gurbaz.

However, Bangladesh will take some comfort from the absence of Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan.

Contrasting memories from previous Tests

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have met twice in Test cricket.

Afghanistan shocked Bangladesh with a 224-run victory in 2019. Four years later, Bangladesh responded emphatically, producing a record 546-run victory in the 2023 Test between the sides.

Both previous matches were played in Bangladesh. This time, however, the contest will take place at a neutral venue—a setting that Afghanistan know considerably better.

Afghanistan have played 13 Tests so far, including three in the UAE. They also have extensive experience playing white-ball cricket in the country.

Bangladesh, however, hold the advantage in overall Test experience. Since 2023, Afghanistan have won just one of seven Tests, with one draw. Bangladesh, meanwhile, have won five of their last seven Tests, including a series whitewash against Pakistan and a historic victory over Australia in Darwin.

A crucial preparation match

The Afghanistan Test is not part of the World Test Championship. However, Bangladesh will soon face three important WTC series against the West Indies and England at home and South Africa away.

Bangladesh currently have 40 points from six matches across three series, with a points percentage of 55.56, leaving them fourth in the standings.

Winning four of their remaining six Tests and drawing at least one could put Bangladesh in a strong position to reach the WTC final. The road is difficult, but not impossible.

That makes the Afghanistan Test an important opportunity to assess the team before the decisive phase of the championship campaign.

Pace and spin options

Bangladesh have rested experienced fast bowler Taskin Ahmed with the bigger series ahead in mind. Nahid Rana is also unavailable as he continues his injury rehabilitation.

Still, the pace attack featuring Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury should provide Bangladesh with confidence.

The Abu Dhabi surface has historically offered assistance to spin, making Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam key options. Reserve off-spinner Nayeem Hasan is also being considered, and the 26-year-old could potentially make the playing XI.

For Bangladesh, this is more than just another Test match. It is their first Test at a neutral venue and an important opportunity to test themselves ahead of a demanding World Test Championship campaign.

After the disappointment of the Asian Games, Shanto’s team now have a chance to make a fresh start in the longest format—against Afghanistan, under the Abu Dhabi heat.