Bangladesh will play a one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 13 October, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on 30 September, when it released the venues and travel plan for the team's tour of the United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan are the home side for the series, which is being staged in the UAE.

The BCB had named a 15-member squad for the match on 19 September, with Najmul Hossain Shanto as captain.

Hridoy and Jaker return

The main changes are the return of batter Towhid Hridoy and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali. Hridoy earned his recall after an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in an unofficial Test at Potchefstroom in early September, the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi batter. Jaker, who also batted well in that match, comes in for Amite Hasan.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has been rested. Chief selector Habibul Bashar said the board was giving priority to the World Test Championship and wanted Taskin fully available for the home Tests against the West Indies later in the season.

The travel plan

According to the itinerary announced by the BCB, the tour will run as follows:

  • 1 October: the first group of the Test squad leaves for Dubai.
  • 4 and 5 October: a two-day practice match against the UAE.
  • 6 October: players returning from the Asian Games in Japan join the squad, and the team moves to Abu Dhabi.
  • 9 to 13 October: the one-off Test in Abu Dhabi.

Tri-series to follow

After the Test, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will play a one-day international tri-series in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Bangladesh open the event against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi on 17 October and meet Afghanistan in Sharjah on 21 October. Each side plays the other once, and the top two teams will meet in the final in Sharjah on 23 October. All tri-series matches will be played under lights.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board named its squads for the Test, the tri-series and its later series against Zimbabwe on 1 October.

The UAE tour opens a busy stretch for the national team, which returns home to prepare for a two-match Test series against the West Indies starting on 28 October.

Sources: tigercricket.com.bd, cricket.af