Bangladesh coach speaks [Source: AFP]The Bangladesh cricket team is gearing up to take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test match. The match will be hosted under the scorching sun of the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi between October 9 and October 13. Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons, however, is hopeful of the team to do well by adjusting to the conditions and weather of Abu Dhabi, even though some of the players recently returned from the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.Bangladesh coach hopeful of team under Abu Dhabi weatherBangladesh cricket players have been training in Abu Dhabi for the last few days for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. The team even had a two-day warm-up match against hosts UAE which resulted in a draw.However, the Bangladesh national squad was recently joined by as many as six players who played the 2026 Asian Games in Japan under completely different conditions. Bangladesh T20I captain Litton Das also claimed that the team did not have much training to do in Japan owing to persistent rains in Nisshin.ALSO READAfghanistan Predicted Playing XI vs Bangladesh - Only Test, 2026Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons believes that the six players who joined the team in Abu Dhabi might find it difficult to adjust to the contrasting weather in Abu Dhabi. While speaking with the reporters after a practise session, Simmons said “Well, that's the only issue right now. The guys who came from Japan, doing not much there, and then having to come in this weather... two days in this weather, it's how they adjust.”However, the Bangladesh coach is also confident that the players can adjust themselves accordingly to the pitch and weather conditions in Abu Dhabi, and claimed that some players have even performed well during the training session.Phil Simmons added “Because it's a mental thing at the end of the day, and it's how they adjust. And today they look good. They look good for their first day in the heat. So, I'm sure they will adjust themselves properly.”Bangladesh coach wary of Afghanistan spin challengePhil Simmons has also analysed the playing surface at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, claiming the wicket promises to be a sporting one despite being a little bit on the slower side.The Bangladesh coach added that his team is wary of Afghanistan’s spin threat, which has prompted the players to train and prepare accordingly in the lead-up to the match.Simmons explained “I'm looking at the wicket, the wicket looks good. It looks like it can be a little bit slow, but it looks to be a good wicket. So, we're preparing for a good wicket. We know that we're going to have to come up against a number of spinners, so we're preparing for all that. And the preparation has been good, the guys have worked well. So we're looking forward to a couple days from now.”It is worth noting that the match marks Bangladesh’s first Test assignment since returning with a historic drawn result in Australia.ALSO READWest Indies Predicted Playing XI vs India, 2nd T20I, 2026
