Shanto to captain Bangladesh's 15-man squad for Afghanistan Test in UAE
Synopsis
Riding the momentum of their first-ever Test win on Australian soil, Bangladesh have named a settled 15-man squad — captained by Shanto — for a one-off Test against Afghanistan in the UAE from 9 October. The squad is a near-direct continuation of the Australia series group, signalling that selectors are backing the same core to push on.
Key Takeaways
Najmul Hossain Shanto retains the captaincy for Bangladesh's one-off Test against Afghanistan in the UAE , starting 9 October 2026 .
The 15-member squad blends experienced names — Mushfiqur Rahim , Litton Das , Mominul Haque — with in-form performers from the Australia tour.
Bangladesh beat Australia by nine wickets in Darwin — their first-ever Test win on Australian soil — before losing the second Test in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs .
Hasan Mahmud (6/55) and Tanzid Hasan (century) were standout performers in the Darwin win; Shoriful Islam took 7/48 in Mackay.
Travelling reserves Nayeem Hasan , Musfik Hasan , and Iqbal Hossain Emon will accompany the squad to the UAE.
The Afghanistan fixture is part of a broader UAE multi-format season reportedly also featuring a Zimbabwe white-ball series.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead a 15-member Bangladesh squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates from 9 October, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on 19 September 2026. The squad retains a familiar core while integrating emerging talent, as Bangladesh arrive on the back of a historic series result in Australia.
Squad Composition
The top order is anchored by Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, and Mominul Haque, with captain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das providing seasoned depth in the middle order. Soumya Sarkar, Tawhid Hridoy, and Jaker Ali Anik round out the batting options.
The spin department is led by frontline operators Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, while the pace attack features Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, and Shoriful Islam. Travelling reserves Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, and Iqbal Hossain Emon will accompany the main group to the UAE.
Historic Australia Tour Sets the Tone
Bangladesh arrive at this fixture buoyed by one of their most celebrated Test series in recent memory. They stunned Australia by nine wickets in the opening Test in Darwin — their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. Hasan Mahmud was the chief destroyer with 6 for 55 in Australia's first innings, while Tanzid Hasan became the first Bangladesh batter to register a Test century in Australia.
Australia levelled the series in the second Test in Mackay, winning by an innings and 51 runs, with Mitchell Starc claiming 10 wickets in the match. Notably, Shoriful Islam — who now features in the Afghanistan squad — returned figures of 7 for 48 in Australia's first innings, underscoring his growing role in Bangladesh's pace plans. The 1-1 series draw was Bangladesh's first Test series in Australia in 23 years.
Context: The UAE Fixture and Afghanistan's Busy Schedule
The Afghanistan Test forms part of a busier multi-format season for Afghanistan in the UAE across October and November, which reportedly includes a white-ball series involving Zimbabwe. Playing in the UAE is routine for Afghanistan, who use the subcontinent-like conditions as their adopted home ground for major fixtures. For Bangladesh, it offers a chance to consolidate momentum in a format where they have shown clear improvement.
What Bangladesh Will Look to Build On
This is not merely a one-off assignment for Bangladesh — it is an opportunity to demonstrate that the Darwin win was a turning point rather than an aberration. Their bowling depth, particularly Hasan Mahmud's pace and the spin axis of Mehidy and Taijul, will be central to their game plan on UAE surfaces that typically assist spinners as the match progresses. With confidence high and selections consistent, Bangladesh appear well-positioned heading into the contest.
Point of View
Which reflects selectors' confidence but also raises questions about whether the depth below the first-choice fifteen is being developed fast enough. The Darwin win was genuinely historic, yet the Mackay collapse by an innings was a reminder that this team can still be exposed when conditions shift. The UAE Test against Afghanistan, while less celebrated, is a valuable low-pressure environment to embed new habits and test fringe players — an opportunity the selectors appear to have passed on in favour of continuity.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will captain Bangladesh in the Test against Afghanistan?
Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh in the one-off Test against Afghanistan, continuing his leadership role from the Australia series. The match is scheduled in the UAE from 9 October 2026.
Where will the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Test be played?
The one-off Test will be played in the United Arab Emirates, starting 9 October 2026. Afghanistan regularly host major fixtures in the UAE, which offers subcontinent-like conditions.
What was Bangladesh's result against Australia in their recent Test series?
Bangladesh drew the two-match series 1-1 with Australia. They won the opening Test in Darwin by nine wickets — their first-ever Test win on Australian soil — before losing the second Test in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs.
Who were the standout performers for Bangladesh against Australia?
Hasan Mahmud took 6 for 55 in Australia's first innings in Darwin, while Tanzid Hasan scored the first Test century by a Bangladesh batter in Australia. In Mackay, Shoriful Islam claimed 7 for 48 in Australia's first innings despite the team's defeat.
Who are the travelling reserves for Bangladesh's UAE Test?
Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, and Iqbal Hossain Emon have been named as travelling reserves and will accompany the main 15-member squad to the UAE.
