Bangladesh predicted XI vs Afghanistan [Source: AFP]Coming off a historic Test series in Australia, Bangladesh is set to collide with Afghanistan in a one-off Test, starting October 9. The teams will take on each other at a neutral venue in Abu Dhabi at 11:30 AM (IST).Previously, the Asians have played two Tests against each other, with one win for each in 2019 and 2023. Ahead of the game, Afghanistan faced India earlier in the summer in India, facing a defeat by an innings and 300 runs. As Bangladesh looks to make the best out of Afghanistan's poor form, here's a look at their predicted XI for the match.Top Order- Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam. Mominul HaqueTanzid Hasan famously scored the match-winning century against Australia in their last series, ending with 101(197). So far, he has only played 3 Tests and is looking to impress to cement his place in the side for the long term.Tanzid will be accompanied by Shadman Islam at the top, like in the Australia series. So far, he has played 30 Tests and scored 1498 runs for the Asian side. He has 8 fifties and 2 hundreds to his name, but would like to improve on his average of 27.74.One of Bangladesh's best Test batters ever, Mominul Haque will be slotted at number 3. So far, he has 5219 runs in 80 Tests, with 13 hundreds and 28 fifties, having recently surpassed Tamim Iqbal's run tally in the format.ALSO READBangladesh Players Including Nahid Rana Looking To Leave BCB Central Contracts- ReportMiddle Order and Allrounders- Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul IslamCaptain Najmul Hossain Shanto is Bangladesh's best batter in the format in 2026. He has scored 396 runs in 5 Tests at an average of 44, with two fifties and a hundred. He recently missed the Asian Games due to illness, but will be back in action for the Test.Bangladesh's leading run-scorer in Tests, Mushfiqur Rahim, will remain the number 5 batter, aiming to close in on the average of 40 in the format. With 6876 runs in 105 Tests, he is also about to complete 7000 Test runs.Wicketkeeper Litton Das will complete the top-6, with almost 3500 Test runs in 56 Tests. He has an average of 35.32 with six hundreds, but scored three back-to-back ducks in the Australia series. So, he would look to find his form again in the format.Two of Bangladesh's top-3 Test wicket-takers, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (225) and Taijul Islam (272) will be the two bowling all-rounders, extending the batting line-up till 8. Mehidy Hasan also has 2308 runs in Tests, with two hundreds to prove his batting credentials. As right-hand and left-hand finger spinners, the pair provide different angles to the captain.Bowlers- Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled AhmedThe pace attack will be led by Shoriful Islam after the left-arm quick missed the first Test in the Australia tour through a hamstring injury. However, the pacer returned for the next match and picked up 7/48.Hasan Mahmud ripped through the Australian batting in their historic win Down Under, with 6/55. The pacer high on confidence and is also closing in on 50 Test wickets, and this will be the match where he would like to reach the milestone and get his bowling average under 30 from 30.46.The pace attack will be completed by Khaled Ahmed's right-arm pace. Ahmed is coming back from his County Championship stint with Kent, where he picked 16 wickets across three matches. He has a good chance to get his bowling average down from 47.23.Bangladesh Playing XI vs Afghanistan- Only Test, 2026Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed.ALSO READU19 Asia Cup 2026 Schedule Revealed, India vs Pakistan Match On November 8
