The one-off test match between Bangladesh vs Afghanistan will be hosted at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This five-day test match commences on October 09 (Friday). This is indeed the crucial fixture of Bangladesh’s tour of the UAE, spanning 24 days.
After the conclusion of the one-off test, Bangladesh will feature in an ODI tri-series featuring Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh Squad in UAE: Two Groups’ Arrival Confirmed
As per the latest reports, Bangladesh players will arrive in two groups in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first set of players arrived in the nation on October 01 (Thursday) and will commence their training session in Dubai on the subsequent days (2nd and 3rd October).
The arrival of the next batch of players is confirmed on October 06 (Tuesday) and without any break the complete squad will travel to Abu Dhabi on the same day. Ahead of the one-off test against Afghanistan, the Bangladesh players will have a two-day practice session on 7th and 8th of October.
Bangladesh Tour of UAE 2026 Complete Schedule
Bangladesh’s tour of UAE starts with the one-off test against Afghanistan and concludes with the ODI tri-series. Suppose the Tigers secure a top two finish in the tri-series, they could seal a spot in the final on October 23 in Sharjah and get three ODIs to play. Notably, each team will get two matches to play before the final clash.
Before the official matches begin, Bangladesh will feature in a two-day warm-up fixture against UAE on 4th and 5th October in Dubai.
| Format / Tournament | Match | Date and Day | Venue |
| Two-Day Practice Match | Bangladesh vs UAE | October 04 (Sunday) and October 05 (Monday) | Dubai |
| One-Off Test | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | October 09 (Friday) to October 13 (Tuesday) | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| ODI Tri-Series | Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe | October 17 (Saturday) | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | October 21 (Wednesday) | Sharjah (Sharjah Cricket Stadium) | |
| Final (To Be Decided) | October 23 (Friday) |
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Test Records
Out of two tests played, Afghanistan and Bangladesh secured a win each in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
- Total Matches played: 02
- Winnings:
- Afghanistan: 01 (Away in 2019)
- Bangladesh: 01 (at home in 2023)
- Highest Test Inning Total:
- Afghanistan: 342 (in 2019)
- Bangladesh: 382 (in 2023)
- Lowest Test Inning Total:
- Afghanistan: 115 (in 2023)
- Bangladesh: 173 (in 2019)
Bangladesh 15-Member Squad List for One-Off Test vs Afghanistan
| Batters (6) | Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain) |
| Tanzid Hasan Tamim | |
| Shadman Islam | |
| Soumya Sarkar | |
| Mominul Haque | |
| Towhid Hridoy | |
| All-Rounder (1) | Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
| Wicketkeeper-Batter (3) | Mushfiqur Rahim |
| Litton Das | |
| Jaker Ali | |
| Bowlers (5) | Taijul Islam |
| Hasan Mahmud | |
| Khaled Ahmed | |
| Ebadot Hossain | |
| Shoriful Islam |
Why Najmul Hossain Shanto Didn’t Travel to UAE?
Najmul Hossain Shanto didn’t travel with the first batch of players as he is not yet cured from his illness.
Because of slight fever, the Bangladesh skipper’s departure to the UAE has been delayed. As a result, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ensured he returned home in the midway of the Asian Games 2026 as a precautionary measure.
BCB Cricket Operations Manager Shahriar Nafees shared a piece of good news. He said Najmul has shown positive signs of improvement in his health. Based on doctor’s assessment, the 28-year-old is undergoing a speedy recovery and is likely to join his team ahead of the one-off test against Afghanistan.
A Crucial Test Challenge in Neutral Venue
Bangladesh has a huge challenge ahead as they will play their first ever test match in UAE. The Tigers have been familiar with the Asian conditions, but have little experience on the Emirates pitches that are dry, sluggish and spin friendly.
In contrast, Afghanistan has been familiar with UAE conditions having played their key home matches due to their country’s inability to host cricket events.
If Bangladesh are able to pull off a tremendous victory against Afghanistan on the challenging Abu Dhabi pitch, they can become highly competitive in red-ball cricket.
Bangladesh Aims to Build Momentum on Overseas Conditions
To improve the performance on overseas pitches, the forthcoming Abu Dhabi test against Afghanistan holds a significant opportunity to prove their adaptability and growth in the longest format. Although the Tigers have shown glimpses of tremendous performance at home, their consistency at away venues remains the biggest concern.
Conclusive Facts
Bangladesh’s international cricket schedule in October is busy with competitive test and ODI matches. After the conclusion of the UAE tour, the Tigers will return home for the 2-match test series against West Indies scheduled from October 28 (Wednesday) to November 09 (Monday).
With both teams possessing a quality spin bowling attack, fans can expect a closely fought test match in Abu Dhabi and are excited for an intriguing battle.
