Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Live Score & Scorecard — AFG v BAN 2026/27
Afghanistan and Bangladesh play a one-off Test at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 13 October, starting at 11:30 AM IST (10:00 AM local). Bangladesh start as favourites, coming off a Test win in Darwin in August under Najmul Hossain Shanto. Afghanistan have a new captain in Rahmat Shah after the heavy defeat in India, and they have gone spin-heavy with legspinners Qais Ahmad and Khalil Gurbaz in a 15-man squad. It is Bangladesh's first Test at a neutral venue and their first in the UAE. Both sides name their final XI at the toss.
- 📋 Match #1
- 📅 9 October 2026 · 11:30 AM IST
- 📍 Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- 🏆 AFG v BAN 2026/27
The Abu Dhabi surface has generally played slow, and temperatures can climb close to 40 degrees in the day. Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons said the pitch looks good, a little slow, and that his side expect to face plenty of spin. Expect spinners to matter more as the match goes on, so lean towards spin bowling points on days three to five.
Afghanistan's recent Test form is poor after a heavy defeat to India in June, and their last five completed matches read LLWDL. Both left-arm spinners from that Test were dropped in favour of wristspin, and Ismat Alam is a like-for-like pace-bowling allrounder in place of Azmatullah Omarzai. Their batting is the worry: Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik are expected to open, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz at number three and Shahidullah Kamal, the top run scorer of the recent domestic first-class tournament with 538 runs, expected in the middle order.
Bangladesh's last five completed matches read LWLWW. Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud drove the win in Darwin, and Towhid Hridoy returns after an unbeaten 352 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A. Litton Das has scored two runs in his last five innings across formats, and Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam are short of runs. Taskin Ahmed and Amite Hasan are not in the squad, and Nayeem Hasan is a travelling reserve.
Bat and ball in a Test on a slow, spin-friendly surface. He can score points on all five days.
Afghanistan's most reliable Test batter, leading the side for the first time in the format.
- Rahmat Shah(AFG)
Afghanistan's best Test batter and the only Afghan with 1000 Test runs and three centuries. He now captains the side, which usually means he bats long.
- Hashmatullah Shahidi(AFG)
Gave up the captaincy but stays the second pillar of the batting. A solid pick when conditions are slow.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz(AFG)
Aggressive batter expected at number three, so he gets scoring chances early in an innings.
- Qais Ahmad(AFG)
Retained wristspinner likely to bowl a long workload on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto(BAN)
Bangladesh's most successful Test captain and a middle-order anchor. A win here would be his tenth as captain.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz(BAN)
Off-spin and lower-order runs give him points in both innings, which is the best profile for a Test on a slow surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is AFG vs BAN?
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is scheduled for 9 October 2026 at 11:30 AM IST at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in AFG v BAN 2026/27.
Where can I follow AFG vs BAN live score?
Follow ball-by-ball live score, confirmed playing XI and the full scorecard on this page. Fantasy points and the match leaderboard update automatically once play starts.
What is the pitch report for Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium?
The Abu Dhabi surface has generally played slow, and temperatures can climb close to 40 degrees in the day. Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons said the pitch looks good, a little slow, and that his side expect to face plenty of spin. Expect spinners to matter more as the match goes on, so lean towards spin bowling points on days three to five.
Who should be captain for AFG vs BAN in fantasy cricket?
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a strong captain pick, with Rahmat Shah as vice-captain. Bat and ball in a Test on a slow, spin-friendly surface. He can score points on all five days.
Who will win AFG vs BAN?
Bangladesh are the favourites on form and depth, with Afghanistan's Test batting the main question. A slow pitch and Afghanistan's spin-heavy selection could still make this a closer match than the odds suggest, and a draw is possible over five days. Make your call in a free Predictor game once the toss is done.
How do I play fantasy cricket for AFG vs BAN on CricketDream?
Build a free Fantasy XI for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, join a snake Draft with friends, or play the Predictor — all on CricketDream. Pick your 11 players before the toss and compete on the live leaderboard.