Bangladesh has confirmed a 15-member squad for their upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan, set to take place in the United Arab Emirates starting October 9. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the team as captain.
The squad showcases a mix of seasoned players and emerging talent, reflecting Bangladesh’s strategy as they build on their recent performance against Australia. Key players in the top order include Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, and Mominul Haque. In the middle order, Shanto is joined by experienced batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das. Additional batting options consist of Soumya Sarkar, Tawhid Hridoy, and Jaker Ali Anik.
Hasan Mahmud took six wickets for 55 runs in Australia’s first innings, while Tanzid Hasan became the first Bangladesh batter to score a Test century in Australia. Australia bounced back strongly in the second Test in Mackay, winning by an innings and 51 runs to level the two-match series 1-1. Mitchell Starc claimed 10 wickets in the match, while Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam returned figures of 7/48 in Australia’s first innings. The 1-1 draw marked Bangladesh’s first Test series in Australia in 23 years and followed their historic nine-wicket triumph in Darwin.
The fixture opens a busier multi-format season for Afghanistan in the UAE across October and November, which is also reported to include a white-ball series involving Zimbabwe. Bangladesh have included two frontline spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, while the pace attack features Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and Shoriful Islam. Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan and Iqbal Hossain Emon have been named as travelling reserves and will accompany the squad to the UAE. The Afghanistan Test comes after Bangladesh produced one of their most notable Test performances in recent years during their tour of Australia in August. Bangladesh stunned Australia by nine wickets in the opening Test in Darwin, recording their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. Bangladesh will now look to carry that confidence into their UAE assignment against Afghanistan. Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam. Reserves: Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, Iqbal Hossain Emon (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
