Bangladesh elect to bat in Abu Dhabi Test

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat against Afghanistan in their one-off Test at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on October 9, leaving the teams level in their history of meetings in the format as play began. A live update recorded Bangladesh at 2 without loss after the first delivery, with Shadman Islam taking two runs from Yamin Ahmadzai. The match is the teams’ third Test meeting. Afghanistan won their first encounter by 224 runs in 2019, while Bangladesh claimed a 546-run victory in 2023. Each side had one win before the Abu Dhabi match. Afghanistan entered the game under Rahmat Shah, who replaced Hashmatullah Shahidi as captain. The team’s lineup included Shahidi, wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil and spinner Qais Ahmad. Rashid Khan was rested from the Test, according to pre-match team coverage. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said his side chose to bat because the wicket was dry. He expected the surface to slow and begin turning during the match, and said Bangladesh would field three spinners and two pace bowlers. The playing XI included experienced batters Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das, along with allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.