Afghanistan playing XI [Source: AFP]The Afghanistan cricket team will take on Bangladesh in a one-off ‘home’ Test match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match will be hosted between October 9 and October 13, and the meeting marks the first Test match between the two sides since June 2023. Since Afghanistan is yet to participate in the WTC, the match is not a part of the ongoing 2025-27 WTC cycle.Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Only Test PreviewThe Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named a 15-player Afghanistan squad for the one-off Test against Bangladesh just a few days ago. Rahmat Shah will lead the national side after Hashmatullah Shahidi stepped down as Test captain. The match marks Afghanistan’s first Test outing since returning from India in June with a 300-run innings drubbing in Mullanpur.ALSO READNaveen-ul-Haq Joins Commentary With Pakistan Player For Afghanistan vs Bangladesh TestNonetheless, Afghanistan’s squad against Bangladesh features several important returns to the side in the form of Ismat Alam and Zia Ur Rahman Akbar. Shahidullah Kamal and Yamin Ahmadzai earned a national call-up following their impressive performance at the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament. Here is a look at a predicted playing XI for the Afghanistan team for the one-off Test match against Bangladesh.Afghanistan likely playing XI vs Bangladesh, Only Test 2026Openers and Top Order: Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal will continue to open the innings for the Afghanistan cricket team. The two cricketers recently opened together in the one-off Test in India a couple of months ago. The duo put up scores of 28 and 42 in the two innings of the Mullanpur Test match.Rahmanullah, meanwhile, will likely receive his maiden Test cap after scoring heavily in Afghanistan domestic cricket. The right-handed batter averages 35.78 in first-class matches, and he might bat at number three for Afghanistan owing to his familiarity with the position for the Maiwand Champions team.Middle-order and All-rounders: Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Shahidullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ismat AlamCaptain Rahmat Shah will hold on to his number four position, as the star spin-bowling all-rounder scored a fighting 60 at the position against India. He will be followed by former skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi at number five, who averages 44.22 in Test cricket.Batting all-rounder Shahidullah will likely make his return to Afghanistan’s Test XI after a gap of nearly two years, considering the middle-order batter recently plundered monumental scores of 197 and 255 at the 2026 Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament.Wicketkeeper-batter Afsar Zazai will take the number seven position owing to his 10-match experience for the Afghanistan cricket team. Ismat Alam might bat at number eight to make his Test return after a gap of a year. Apart from being a handy middle-order batter, the 24-year-old can also lend his arm for few quality overs of medium pace.Bowlers: Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem, Yamin AhmadzaiFast bowler Ziaur Rahman will take the new ball despite his lacklustre returns in India. The speedster picked up a record seven-fer on his Test debut just last year in Zimbabwe.Mohammad Saleem recently picked up a six-fer in India on his Test return to warrant a place in the Afghanistan’s playing XI. Yamin Ahmadzai, who averages 32 in Test cricket, might play as Afghanistan’s third specialist bowler in the playing XI. He last graced the format back in October last year in Zimbabwe. Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI vs Bangladesh For Only Test Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Shahidullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ismat Alam, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem and Yamin Ahmadzai.ALSO READBangladesh’s Nahid Rana Goes Unsold At SA20 2027 Auction
