Afghanistan are about to play a lot of cricket in a short space of time. The Afghanistan cricket team October 2026 match schedule opens with a one-off Test against Bangladesh on 9 October. A three-nation ODI series follows, and then a T20I series against Zimbabwe begins.
Everything below is accurate as of 6 October 2026. Fixtures in the UAE can shift, so I have flagged the one point where sources disagree.
Afghanistan cricket team October 2026 match schedule at a glance
Afghanistan have five confirmed matches this month, plus a sixth if they reach the tri-series final. That means one Test, two ODIs and two T20Is.
| Date | Match | Format | Venue |
| 9 to 13 October | Afghanistan v Bangladesh (only Test) | Test | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 19 October | Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (2nd match, tri-series) | ODI | Abu Dhabi |
| 21 October | Afghanistan v Bangladesh (3rd match, tri-series) | ODI | Abu Dhabi (see latest news note) |
| 23 October | Tri-series final, teams to be decided | ODI | To be confirmed |
| 27 October | Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (1st T20I) | T20I | Sharjah |
| 29 October | Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (2nd T20I) | T20I | Sharjah |
| 1 November | Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (3rd T20I, outside October) | T20I | Sharjah |
Start times differ between listings, so confirm them closer to each match. Afghanistan do not play in the tri-series opener on 17 October. That match is Bangladesh against Zimbabwe.
Look at the gaps, too. Five clear days separate the end of the Test from the first ODI. A finalist then has only three clear days before the first T20I.
One-off Test against Bangladesh
Dates and venue
The Test runs from 9 to 13 October at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. With only one match, neither side can afford a slow start.
Bangladesh squad
Bangladesh named a 15-player squad on 19 September. Najmul Hossain Shanto is captain and was expected to join the group in the UAE by 6 October.
Fast bowler Khaled Ahmed is back after a county spell with Kent, where he took 16 wickets in three matches. His last Test came on 28 June 2026 against Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh also arrive after a drawn Test series in Australia, where they won a Test on Australian soil for the first time. Taskin was rested for this match.
Afghanistan squad
Rahmat Shah leads Afghanistan. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran are rested from Tests on medical advice.
Rashid is 28 and has played just six Tests, the last in January 2025, after back surgery in 2023. Without him, I expect the bowling to lean on Qais Ahmad, Yamin Ahmadzai and Khalil Gurbaz.
Test squad balance
ESPN lists Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik as the two opening batters. Ikram Alikhil and Afsar Zazai are the wicketkeeper-batters, and Rahmat Shah is listed as an all-rounder.
Ismat Alam and Shahidullah are the batting all-rounders. Yamin Ahmadzai, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem and Qais Ahmad are listed as bowlers.
That gives the batting order plenty of options. The bowlers, meanwhile, must cover five days without the best-known name in the squad pool.
ODI tri-series in the UAE
Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe play a round robin from 17 to 23 October. Each side gets two round-robin matches, so every result carries weight.
Afghanistan open against Zimbabwe on 19 October. Bangladesh are the opponent on 21 October. The final follows on 23 October, and both finalists are still to be decided.
Naseeb Khan, the chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, called the series important preparation for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan already qualified for that tournament on rankings. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia co-host it.
Rahmat Shah captains the ODI squad. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran are both named, and so is Mohammad Nabi. On name value, that group looks stronger than the one picked for the Test.
T20I series against Zimbabwe
Ibrahim Zadran captains Afghanistan in the T20Is. The first match is on 27 October and the second on 29 October. The third follows on 1 November.
Every match against Zimbabwe is in Sharjah, including the two Tests in November. Those Tests run from 5 to 9 November and from 13 to 17 November.
Cricinfo reported that Nabi was dropped from the T20I squad and that Rasooli was left out of the white-ball squads. The T20I group still carries three spinners in Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. On paper, that is a strong spin attack for a short series.
Recent form before the UAE swing
Afghanistan played plenty of cricket before this month. They toured India in June for a Test and three ODIs. The third ODI in Chennai on 20 June ended with India winning by nine wickets after Afghanistan made 218.
August brought a tour of Ireland. Afghanistan won the second ODI at Bready on 10 August by 92 runs after posting 299 for 8.
I would not read too much into either result. Conditions in the UAE are different, and Afghanistan treat the country as a home base for hosting series.
The calendar beyond November is already visible. Afghanistan tour the West Indies in February 2027 for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. They then host Ireland in March 2027 for the same mix of formats.
What this month means for the 2027 World Cup
The tri-series is the closest thing Afghanistan have to a dress rehearsal. They qualified for the 2027 World Cup on rankings, so they do not need results to book a place. They need rhythm.
Two ODIs against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh give the coaches a look at the full-strength group. The 19 October match also gives Afghanistan an early look at a World Cup co-host.
The Test and the T20Is are a different story. Rashid and Zadran sit out the five-day game, and the T20I side has a different captain from the ODI side.
Format-hopping also tests depth. Atal is the only player in all three squads, so a small core of batters will carry a heavy load across the month.
Squad and selection calls
Test squad
Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhil, Afsar Zazai, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai.
ODI squad
Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai.
T20I squad
Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah Tarakhail, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Farid Ahmad Malik.
What stands out
Two captains, one squad pool. Rahmat Shah handles the longer formats, and Zadran takes the T20Is. Sediqullah Atal is the only player named in all three squads.
Latest news note
As of 6 October 2026, Afghanistan have named all three squads. The announcement came on 1 October.
One detail needs a check before you plan around it. Cricinfo lists the 21 October ODI in Abu Dhabi. A report dated 3 October said only the first two tri-series matches would be in Abu Dhabi, with the rest in Sharjah.
The final venue is not confirmed in the sources I checked. The official board and Cricinfo listings are the best places to confirm it.
Also Read,
Afghanistan Tri-Series 2026: Schedule, Squads and World Cup Stakes
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh 2026: One-Off Test, Squads and ODI Rematch
Key takeaways
- Opening fixture: the one-off Test against Bangladesh starts on 9 October in Abu Dhabi.
- Tri-series dates: Afghanistan play on 19 and 21 October, and the final is on 23 October.
- Zimbabwe T20Is: 27 October, 29 October and 1 November, all in Sharjah.
- Captains: Rahmat Shah leads in Tests and ODIs, and Ibrahim Zadran leads in T20Is.
- Rested stars: Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran are out of Test cricket on medical advice.
FAQs
When does Afghanistan play Bangladesh in October 2026?
Afghanistan play Bangladesh in a one-off Test from 9 to 13 October and again in the tri-series on 21 October.
Who captains Afghanistan in the Test against Bangladesh?
Rahmat Shah captains Afghanistan in the Test.
When is the ODI tri-series final?
The final is on 23 October, with both teams still to be decided.
Where are the Afghanistan and Zimbabwe T20Is played?
All three T20Is are at Sharjah.
Is Rashid Khan playing in the Test against Bangladesh?
No, Rashid Khan is rested from Tests on medical advice, although he is in the ODI and T20I squads.
Conclusion
The Afghanistan cricket team October 2026 match schedule is short on rest and long on variety. A Test, a tri-series and a T20I series sit inside a few weeks.
As of 6 October 2026, the dates above are confirmed, and the venue for the later tri-series games is the only open question. Afghanistan’s best chance to show World Cup form arrives on 19 and 21 October.