Bangladesh Fail to Finish Day 1 Strong in Abu Dhabi After Promising Start

Bangladesh ended the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi at 317 for 8.

Despite a flying start powered by Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shadman Islam in the first session, Bangladesh fell into trouble by losing three quick wickets before tea. Afghanistan wrestled back control of the match thanks to a pace assault from Yamin Ahmadzai and Mohammad Saleem. Nayeem Hasan (11*) and Taijul Islam (4*) were at the crease at stumps.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, young opener Tanzid Hasan came out all guns blazing against the Afghan bowlers. He made his intentions clear early on, collecting 15 runs off Ahmadzai's fifth over. Ahmadzai’s morning could have been different had Hashmatullah Shahidi not dropped a simple catch off Shadman Islam at cover when the batter was on 5. Shadman made full use of the reprieve, building runs steadily at the other end.

Driven by Tanzid's onslaught, Bangladesh brought up their fifty in just the 10th over. Tanzid spared no one, including Shahidi's part-time off-spin, and reached his half-century off just 41 balls with seven fours and a six.

He looked set for a century before lunch, but Afghanistan broke the stand 15 minutes before the break through a clever tactical move. Wicketkeeper Ikram stood up to the stumps to medium-pacer Ismat Alam, and Tanzid offered a catch behind. He departed after a fiery 83 off 71 balls, laced with eight fours and four sixes.

Early in the second session, Shadman reached his ninth Test fifty. However, Afghan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem shifted tactics, testing the batters with a barrage of short balls—one of which struck Mominul Haque flush on the helmet. Saleem got his reward the following over when Shadman pulled a short ball to square leg, where Zia-ur-Rehman took a brilliant catch, sending him back for 67.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto started aggressively, off the mark with a four and a six off Qais Ahmad before driving Ahmadzai for another towering six. However, Mominul (39) misjudged a slower delivery on a sticky pitch and chipped a simple catch to Rahmat Shah at cover.

Mominul's departure triggered a quick collapse. In the very next over, Yamin Ahmadzai cleaned up veteran Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck with a brilliant full-length delivery. Before Bangladesh could recover, Shanto (29) was caught at slip off leg-spinner Qais Ahmad, putting the visitors firmly on the back foot right before tea.