Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Only Test Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI & Fantasy Tips (Abu Dhabi, 9 Oct 2026)
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.
📡Live scores, playing XI and result for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh→Share this article
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.
Tip: Always check the official playing XI announced on match day before finalising your fantasy team — last-minute changes happen.
Team Assessment
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.
Key Players to Watch
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.
Gave up the captaincy but stays the second pillar of the batting. A solid pick when conditions are slow.
Aggressive batter expected at number three, so he gets scoring chances early in an innings.
Retained wristspinner likely to bowl a long workload on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch.
Bangladesh's most successful Test captain and a middle-order anchor. A win here would be his tenth as captain.
Off-spin and lower-order runs give him points in both innings, which is the best profile for a Test on a slow surface.
In form after the Darwin Test and a county stint with Kent. Leads the pace group.
Bangladesh's most experienced Test spinner, and a certain starter on a pitch that should turn.
Fantasy Cricket Picks
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.
Must Picks
Allrounder on a slow pitch.
Anchor and new captain.
Settled in the middle order.
Spin workload expected.
Differential Picks (Grand League)
Wristspinner likely to bowl plenty of overs.
In record form, but his place in the XI is a selection call, so check the toss.
Players to Avoid
Two runs in his last five innings across formats. Wicketkeeping points help, but the form is a risk.
Suggested Fantasy XI
Match Prediction
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.
Neither XI is confirmed until the toss, so check the match page before you lock. Afsar Zazai is the probable keeper for Afghanistan and Litton Das for Bangladesh. Mushfiqur Rahim is in the suggested XI as the keeper option, so swap in whichever keeper actually plays. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is the captain pick and Rahmat Shah the vice-captain. Build your free Fantasy XI, set up a Draft with friends, call the winner in Predictor, and play the daily Cricket Grid and CricketQuest between sessions. Every CricketDream game is free, with no entry fee and no cash prizes.
Match Trivia
This is Bangladesh's first Test at a neutral venue and their first in the UAE.
Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan's fourth Test captain after Asghar Afghan, Rashid Khan and Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Afghanistan won their last Test at this ground, beating Zimbabwe by six wickets in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will win Afghanistan vs Bangladesh?
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.
Who should be captain for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh in fantasy cricket?
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is the top 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.
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.
When is Afghanistan vs Bangladesh?
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is scheduled for October 9, 2026 at 11:30 AM IST, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
What is the head-to-head record between Afghanistan and Bangladesh?
This will be the third Test between the two sides. They have played two so far and won one each. Afghanistan's last Test at this ground was a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in 2021.
How have Afghanistan and Bangladesh been performing recently?
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.
Who is a good differential pick for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh?
Qais Ahmad (AFG) — Wristspinner likely to bowl plenty of overs.
Are there any notable stats for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh?
This is Bangladesh's first Test at a neutral venue and their first in the UAE. Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan's fourth Test captain after Asghar Afghan, Rashid Khan and Hashmatullah Shahidi. Afghanistan won their last Test at this ground, beating Zimbabwe by six wickets in 2021.
What's a good fantasy XI for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh?
A balanced XI built from both squads: Mushfiqur Rahim, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ismat Alam, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Qais Ahmad, Shoriful Islam. Adjust based on the confirmed playing XI closer to the toss.
How do I play Fantasy XI, Draft or Predictor for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh on CricketDream?
Open this match on CricketDream and choose Fantasy XI (pick 11 players within a 100-credit budget), Draft (snake-draft real players with friends) or Predictor (predict match outcomes) — all free to play, with points calculated automatically from live match data.
Build your Fantasy XI on CricketDream
Use these picks to build your team for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh and compete for the top spot on the leaderboard.
Build Fantasy XI for Afghanistan vs Bangladesh →