Bangladesh target Afghanistan win ahead of crucial WTC assignments

Bangladesh will look to carry the confidence from their historic Test success in Australia into their one-off Test against Afghanistan tomorrow (9 October), with a victory in Abu Dhabi seen as an important boost ahead of their crucial World Test Championship (WTC) assignments.

The match will begin at 12pm Bangladesh time at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, reports BSS.

Although the Afghanistan Test is not part of the WTC cycle, Bangladesh are keen to secure a win before facing the West Indies and South Africa in their remaining WTC matches. Results in those series will play a key role in determining whether Bangladesh can reach the WTC final for the first time.

Bangladesh's confidence has been boosted by their 1-1 draw in the two-Test series in Australia, which included a historic victory over the hosts. The result was a major breakthrough for Bangladesh in Test cricket, with the team now hoping to build on that momentum.

Afghanistan, however, are unlikely to provide an easy challenge, particularly in conditions that could suit their spin-heavy attack.

The two sides have met twice in Test cricket, with both teams winning once. Afghanistan's familiarity with playing in Abu Dhabi could also work in their favour, as the slow and low surface is expected to assist spinners.

Bangladesh's own spin attack remains one of their major strengths, despite the recent emergence of their pace unit. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam could play key roles if the pitch behaves as expected, while Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons hinted that the team could consider fielding an additional spinner.

Simmons expects a competitive surface but believes it could offer some assistance to the spinners.

"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," he said in a video message sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

While the pitch could favour Bangladesh's spinners as well, the UAE heat remains a concern for the Tigers.

Six players who were part of the Asian Games squad in Japan, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, joined the Test squad only after arriving in the UAE on Tuesday, leaving them little time to adjust to the conditions.

Simmons admitted that adapting to the heat was currently the team's main concern.

"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," he said.

"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," he added.

Bangladesh will therefore enter the Test with two objectives: maintain the momentum generated by their Australia breakthrough and gain confidence before the more consequential WTC contests against the West Indies and South Africa.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam.

Reserves: Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, Iqbal Hossain Emon.

Afghanistan squad: Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhail (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai.

Reserves: Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami and Bashir Ahmad.