Afghanistan and Bangladesh Set for One-Off Test in UAE in October 2026

Afghanistan and Bangladesh are scheduled to face off in a one-off Test match in the United Arab Emirates in October 2026, marking another significant red-ball encounter between the two Asian rivals.

Evenly Poised Rivalry

The two sides currently share an evenly matched head-to-head record in Test cricket. In their two previous longest-format encounters, both Afghanistan and Bangladesh have claimed one victory apiece. The upcoming fixture provides an opportunity for either side to take the lead in their head-to-head Test ledger.

Form and Key Performers

Ranked sixth in the ICC Test rankings, Bangladesh enter the contest looking to build upon strong recent red-ball form, having won five of their last seven Tests over the past year. Batter Mominul Haque has been a central figure in their batting order with 592 runs across the last 12 months, while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam continues to lead their bowling attack, claiming 35 wickets in that span.

Twelfth-ranked Afghanistan will aim to rebound in the longest format as they continue to develop their Test credentials. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and bowler Ziaur Rahman are among the key figures expected to feature prominently for the Afghan side during the fixture in the Emirates.

Match Details

The one-off Test match is scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026, at 11:00 AM local time, with the specific venue across the United Arab Emirates set to be finalized.