Afghanistan Test to measure Bangladesh's red-ball progress

Bangladesh's growing confidence in Test cricket will face another test when they take on Afghanistan in a one-off match in Abu Dhabi from October 9, with the Tigers looking to build on the progress made in the longest format over the past two years.

The match comes at an interesting point for Bangladesh. Their nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin in August provided perhaps their strongest indication yet that the team can compete successfully in demanding overseas conditions. Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud played a central role in that success with a six-wicket haul in the first innings.

Hasan has since spoken of a changing mindset within the team, saying Bangladesh now have the belief to aim higher in Test cricket. He also described reaching the World Test Championship final as a dream after the team's recent improvement.

The immediate challenge, however, is Afghanistan in conditions that are likely to offer a different examination. The Abu Dhabi Test is not part of the current World Test Championship cycle, but it gives Bangladesh an opportunity to maintain their red-ball momentum before four important home Tests against the West Indies and England later in the cycle.

Bangladesh have also made a deliberate selection call for the Afghanistan match. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has been rested as the team manages his workload, while Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali have returned to the Test squad. Hridoy comes into the side after an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A, while Jaker also impressed in the same match.

The team's preparations in the UAE began with a two-day warm-up against the UAE, which ended in a draw on Monday. Bangladesh made 234 in their first innings and bowled the hosts out for 222 before reaching 114 for three in their second innings. Iqbal Hossain Emon took four wickets and Taijul Islam three.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had been recovering from illness after the Asian Games, has also joined the squad in the UAE.

The Afghanistan Test therefore offers Bangladesh more than another fixture. It is an opportunity to show that the improvement seen in Australia can be carried into another set of conditions and become a more consistent feature of their Test cricket.