Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday, selecting three spinners and two pacers for the historic fixture.
Bangladesh are playing their first Test at a neutral venue in their 26-year Test history and their first in the United Arab Emirates. The match follows their historic tour of Australia.
Shanto said at the toss that spinners could gain extra assistance on the third and fourth days, prompting Bangladesh to strengthen their spin options for the contest.
The heat in Abu Dhabi also presents a challenge, but Shanto said the team would not use the conditions as an excuse.
“Our preparation has been good. The conditions are a little hot, and that will remain the case. But as professional cricketers, we do not want to use that as an excuse at all. I think the players are not worrying too much about it either,” Shanto said.
Bangladesh have played 161 Tests since beginning their Test journey 26 years ago. Their meeting with Afghanistan marks a new experience, with the team facing the challenge of adapting to the UAE conditions while preparing for spin to become more influential as the match progresses.
