Afghanistan once beat Bangladesh by 224 runs in a Test at Chattogram. Bangladesh won the other Test between the two. Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is level at one win apiece, and Abu Dhabi can break the tie from October 9, 2026.
The one-off Test has a sequel. The same teams meet again in an ODI on October 21. Here’s what to know about both games.
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Test Schedule and Venue
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed the tour on September 8, 2026. The squads followed on October 1.
Match details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | One-off Test, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh |
| Dates | October 9 to 13, 2026 |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Start time | 10:00 AM UAE time |
Start times around the world
Play begins at 6:00 AM GMT. That’s 10:00 AM in Abu Dhabi, 11:30 AM in India and 12:00 PM in Bangladesh.
The Test is scheduled for five days. As of October 8, it hadn’t started yet, so no result or toss details were available when this was written.
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh: Test History
The two teams have met in only two Tests. Afghanistan won one and lost one, so the record is level.
Afghanistan’s win came in Chattogram, where they beat Bangladesh by 224 runs. It was only their third Test ever, and it stung the hosts. Bangladesh’s own win in the other match squared the books.
Two matches aren’t much of a sample. Still, the pattern is clear: neither team has dominated. That’s why this Test feels open, whatever the rankings say.
One-off Tests are tricky to read. There’s no second match to correct a bad first session, and no series context to lean on. Teams must get everything right inside five days.
That favors the side that settles quickest. Afghanistan have played one Test earlier this year, since reports say this stretch takes their 2026 total to four. Bangladesh come in with a squad of familiar names. Neither side has an obvious edge in rhythm.
Afghanistan’s Build-Up: Rahmat Shah Leads, Rashid Rests
Rahmat Shah captains Afghanistan in this Test. He was recently appointed captain in Tests and ODIs. In August, he led the side to a 4-0 ODI series win over Ireland.
The big absence is Rashid Khan. The ACB said Rashid and opener Ibrahim Zadran will continue to rest from Test cricket on medical advice. Both players have been told not to play Tests.
Rashid, 28, had back surgery in 2023. He played the last of his six Tests in January 2025. His absence removes Afghanistan’s most famous spin bowler from the five-day game.
It’s a real loss for the five-day game. Both players are in the ODI squad for the tri-series, so fans will still see them this month.
This Test also kicks off a heavy stretch for Afghanistan. Add the two Tests against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan reach four Tests this year. That’s the most they’ve played in a calendar year.
Bangladesh’s Build-Up: Shanto Leads a Familiar Group
Najmul Hossain Shanto leads Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. The squad includes several experienced names, such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Litton Das.
Bangladesh come into this Test with a fresh talking point. Their recent draw in Australia included their first Test win on Australian soil. That’s a confidence boost, even if conditions in the UAE are very different.
The Test also works as preparation for a home series. West Indies visit Bangladesh for two Tests starting October 28. A good performance in Abu Dhabi would set the tone for that run.
What a Win Would Mean in Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
Test wins carry a different weight from white-ball ones. Both camps know it.
For Afghanistan, a victory would put them ahead in the head-to-head, 2-1. It would also give Rahmat Shah an early marker as captain. He’s new to the job in the longest format, so a win would settle some nerves.
For Bangladesh, a win would build on the Australia result. They’d also leave Abu Dhabi ahead in the head-to-head, 2-1. That’s a small stat, but small stats shape previews.
A draw would keep things level. This is a one-off Test, so no series is on the line. Only the head-to-head record is at stake. My view: that makes the bragging rights more interesting than the points.
How to Follow Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
The match starts at 10:00 AM in Abu Dhabi on all five days. Fans in India can tune in from 11:30 AM. Fans in Bangladesh can start at 12:00 PM.
Broadcast and streaming details weren’t part of the board’s announcement. Check the official channels nearer the match for the latest information.
Remember that Test cricket can finish early. A result inside four days is possible, so don’t book everything around day five.
Expected Players and Squads
Both squads were published ahead of the Test. Names below come from the squads as listed in September and October 2026.
Afghanistan: key names
- Rahmat Shah (captain)
- Ikram Alikhil (vice-captain, wicketkeeper)
- Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper)
- Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Sediqullah Atal
- Qais Ahmad
- Yamin Ahmadzai
Bangladesh: full squad
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain)
- Litton Das (wicketkeeper)
- Mushfiqur Rahim
- Mominul Haque
- Soumya Sarkar
- Tanzid Hasan
- Shadman Islam
- Tawhid Hridoy
- Jaker Ali
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Taijul Islam
- Shoriful Islam
- Hasan Mahmud
- Khaled Ahmed
- Ebadot Hossain
Final XIs aren’t confirmed until the toss. Treat the lists as squads, not lineups.
The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh ODI Rematch on October 21
The Test won’t be the end of this rivalry this month. The sides meet in the third match of the ODI tri-series on October 21.
Zimbabwe are the third team in that event, which runs from October 17 to 23. It adds a second chapter to Afghanistan vs Bangladesh. Each side plays the other two once, then the top two meet in the final.
Reports differ on the venue for October 21. One lists Sharjah, while another lists Abu Dhabi. Check the ACB’s official schedule before you plan.
The ODI will use different squads. Afghanistan’s ODI group includes Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran. Bangladesh hadn’t named theirs when reports were published on October 7.
That makes the Test result a useful guide, but not a clean one. Red-ball form and white-ball form don’t always match.
What Comes Next for Both Teams
Bangladesh move quickly. After the tri-series, they host West Indies, and the first Test starts at Mirpur on October 28.
Afghanistan stay in the UAE. They face Zimbabwe in three T20Is at Sharjah on October 27, October 29 and November 1. Two Tests follow, from November 5 to 9 and from November 13 to 17.
It’s a packed calendar for both sides. Managing fitness will matter as much as tactics.
Also Read,
Afghanistan Tri-Series 2026: Schedule, Squads and World Cup Stakes
Afghanistan Cricket Team October 2026 Match Schedule
Questions to Watch in Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
A one-off Test packs many storylines into five days. Here are the ones that could decide it.
How do Afghanistan cope without Rashid? Qais Ahmad and others will have to share the spin load. That’s a big task in a Test.
Can Bangladesh’s seam bowlers make an early dent? Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain are in the squad.
Will experience beat form? Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque bring years of Test cricket. Afghanistan’s new captain brings fresh momentum from the Ireland series.
There’s also a bigger question. Does a result in Abu Dhabi change the mood for the tri-series? My guess is yes, at least for a few days.
Finally, who wins the toss and what does the captain choose? Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is a one-off, so a single call on day one could define the next five days.
Key Takeaways
- Test dates: October 9 to 13, 2026, at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
- Head-to-head: Afghanistan and Bangladesh have each won one of their two Tests.
- Captains: Rahmat Shah leads Afghanistan, and Najmul Hossain Shanto leads Bangladesh.
- Rashid Khan: Rested from Tests on medical advice, but in the ODI squad for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh in the tri-series.
- ODI rematch: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh again on October 21 in the tri-series.
FAQs
When does the Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Test begin?
The one-off Test starts on October 9, 2026, in Abu Dhabi.
Where is the Test being played?
The Test is at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Is Rashid Khan playing the Test?
No, Rashid Khan has been rested from Test cricket on medical advice.
Who captains each side?
Rahmat Shah captains Afghanistan, and Najmul Hossain Shanto captains Bangladesh.
When do Afghanistan and Bangladesh play next after the Test?
They meet in the third ODI of the tri-series on October 21, 2026.
Conclusion
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh starts with a level Test record and a one-off match in Abu Dhabi. Rashid Khan’s absence and Bangladesh’s busy calendar add intrigue. Whatever happens from October 9 to 13, the two teams meet again on October 21.