Bangladesh reached lunch on 134 for one on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, with Tanzid Hasan’s rapid 83 setting the tone before he fell, after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had won the toss and chosen to bat.
Tanzid’s innings ended when he chased a delivery outside off stump from medium-pacer Ismat Alam and edged behind, ending a 124-run opening stand off 138 balls. His 83 came from 71 balls, with eight fours and four sixes, and raised hopes of a century.
Afghanistan had planned for him. Wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil stood up to the stumps even when the medium-pacer bowled, and the tactic paid off when the edge came straight to his gloves. It was the only wicket of the session, though the hosts used five bowlers.
Shadman Islam was unbeaten on 41 off 74 balls at the break, with five fours, while veteran Mominul Haque was on five from seven deliveries. The left-handed opener had been fortunate early on, dropped by Hashmatullah Shahidi at cover when he had made just five.
The stand had reached 100 in 109 balls, Bangladesh’s 13th century opening partnership in Tests and their fifth away from home. It was also the first time Tanzid and Shadman had put on a hundred together. Tanzid’s fifty came in 41 balls.
Tanzid attacked from the start, taking 15 runs off Yamin Ahmadzai in the fifth over, while Shadman played a cautious hand at the other end. Mohammad Salim Safi narrowly missed Shadman’s off stump in the fourth over, and Bangladesh were 50 without loss after ten overs.
Bangladesh went in with three spinners, including Nayeem Hasan, who travelled as a reserve and was not officially named in the squad. Towhid Hridoy, back after a triple century for Bangladesh A, missed out, while Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud led the pace attack.
Afghanistan also leaned on spin, naming only two fast bowlers, Yamin Ahmadzai and Mohammad Salim Safi, alongside Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Shahidullah Kamal. The match is Bangladesh’s first Test at a neutral venue in 161 Tests, staged at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Coming after a medal-less Asian Games, the Test offers Bangladesh a chance to move on from T20 disappointment, with Afghanistan, technically the hosts, again using the UAE because the country cannot yet host international cricket. Play began at noon Bangladesh time on October 9.