Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan has predicted that Afghanistan will lean heavily on their spin arsenal in the upcoming ODI tri-series featuring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, which gets underway in Abu Dhabi on 17 October 2026. Speaking to reporters at Dhaka airport ahead of his departure for the United Arab Emirates, Nurul identified spin conditions and the return of Afghanistan's specialist tweakers as central storylines in the tournament, which doubles as preparation for the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.

Afghanistan's Spin Threat

While Afghanistan have deployed a pace-heavy approach in their ongoing one-off Test, Nurul believes the transition to limited-overs cricket will prompt a tactical reset. With Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, and Nangyali Khan all named in Afghanistan's 15-member ODI squad, the side carries formidable spin depth into the tri-series.

'I think they (Afghanistan) will try to back their strong zone and their spin attack (in the ODIs) is good. So I feel they may opt for a little bit more spinning wicket,' Nurul said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh's Mystery Weapon

Bangladesh will counter with their own spin card in the form of mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam, whose inclusion Nurul regards as a significant tactical asset, particularly when playing away from home. The wicketkeeper-batter drew a broader parallel, noting that most top teams now carry at least one mystery spinner in their arsenal.

'Aliss has been doing well for a long time and I definitely think that is good for the Bangladesh team. Having a mystery spinner like that when we play abroad, I think every team has some bowlers (mystery) like him and I feel that can be a very good aspect for the Bangladesh team from that point of view,' he added.

Bangladesh's Title Ambitions

Beyond individual matchups, Nurul made Bangladesh's goal for the competition unambiguous — the title. He framed the tri-series as a critical opportunity to establish rhythym and collective confidence ahead of two major ODI assignments.

'I think that if we play as a team, we should play the final and become champions,' he said. 'We have two big tournaments in the ODI format, the Asia Cup and then the World Cup. So I think it's a good platform and if we can do well here the confidence will also be boosted up ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup.'

Heat and Conditions in Abu Dhabi

The sweltering UAE heat, which had already drawn attention during Afghanistan's ongoing Test, will be a shared challenge for all three sides. Nurul acknowledged the conditions but was measured in his response, insisting Bangladesh would focus on adapting rather than treating it as an obstacle.

'It's a little hot, but I think it'll be equal for both teams. So we'll try to adjust as much as we can through whatever capability we have,' he said.

Several Bangladesh squad members departed Dhaka on Tuesday to link up with teammates already stationed in the UAE ahead of the Test against Afghanistan. With the tri-series commencing on 17 October, Bangladesh will be looking to hit the ground running and carry positive momentum into the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup cycle.