The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-player squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates from October 9 to 13, 2026.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead the Test side, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named vice-captain. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and some familiar faces returning after strong performances in domestic and Bangladesh A cricket.
The match is not part of the current World Test Championship cycle, but Bangladesh have still picked an experienced group as they prepare for a busy period of Test cricket later in the year.
Towhid Hridoy Earns Test Recall
The biggest talking point from the squad is the return of Towhid Hridoy. The middle-order batter has earned another chance in Test cricket after producing a huge score for Bangladesh A in South Africa.
Hridoy smashed an unbeaten 350 against South Africa A in Potchefstroom earlier this month. It was the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batter in first-class cricket and came at an important time for the 24-year-old.
He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe earlier this year but struggled to make an impact, scoring only 12 runs across two innings. He was subsequently left out of the squad for the Australia tour. His remarkable performance for Bangladesh A has now brought him back into the national Test setup.
Jaker Ali Also Returns
Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik has also been recalled. His selection comes after he impressed for Bangladesh A in the same match against South Africa A, where he scored 94.
Jaker was previously part of Bangladesh’s Test plans for the Australia tour when Litton Das was doubtful. However, he made way after Litton recovered and was available for the series.
Jaker last played a Test for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2025. His return also means Bangladesh have three wicketkeeping options in the squad, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das also included.
Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana Miss Out
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is the most notable absentee from the squad. The BCB has decided to rest him as part of its workload management plans. Chief selector Habibul Bashar explained that Bangladesh wants Taskin fully available for their upcoming important World Test Championship matches, including the home Test series against the West Indies. Taskin could still feature in the ODI series during the West Indies assignment.
Nahid Rana has also been left out, but for a different reason. The fast bowler is still recovering from a Grade 2 side strain that has kept him out since July. According to Bashar, Rana is expected to become available from October 10, which means he will not be ready for the Afghanistan Test starting a day earlier.
Strong Experience in the Bangladesh Squad
Despite the absences, Bangladesh have plenty of experience in their batting order. Shanto, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das provide a strong core, while Tanzid Hasan and Shadman Islam are the main opening options.
Soumya Sarkar has also been included, giving the selectors another batting option. Mehidy and Taijul Islam remain the main spin choices, while Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and Shoriful Islam make up the pace group.
The three travelling reserves are off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, pacer Musfik Hasan and young fast bowler Iqbal Hossain Emon.
Bangladesh’s 15-Member Test Squad
– Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)
– Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc)
– Tanzid Hasan
– Shadman Islam
– Soumya Sarkar
– Mominul Haque
– Mushfiqur Rahim
– Litton Das
– Towhid Hridoy
– Jaker Ali Anik
– Taijul Islam
– Hasan Mahmud
– Khaled Ahmed
– Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury
– Shoriful Islam
Travelling Reserves: Nayeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, Iqbal Hossain Emon.
Afghanistan Test Offers Hridoy a Fresh Chance
The Afghanistan Test will allow Hridoy to show that his recent first-class form can translate into international red-ball cricket.
For Bangladesh, the match also comes at an interesting stage of their Test calendar. With Taskin being managed and Nahid still recovering, the pace attack will have to take responsibility in the UAE.
The focus will be on how the returning players perform and whether Bangladesh can carry their recent confidence into another Test assignment. The one-off contest begins on October 9, with both teams set for five days of red-ball cricket in the UAE.
