Afghanistan will face Bangladesh in the third match of the Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ODI Tri-Series 2026 on Wednesday, October 21. The match will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with both teams aiming to strengthen their position in the tournament ahead of the final.
Afghanistan enter the contest after securing a commanding 158-run victory over Zimbabwe in their opening match. Sediqullah Atal scored a century, Ibrahim Zadran contributed 90 runs, and Rashid Khan claimed four wickets to help Afghanistan make a strong start to their campaign.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will look to recover after losing their opening match against Zimbabwe by 99 runs. They will need a more consistent batting performance and greater control with the ball to challenge Afghanistan and keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
The fixture is the third match of the four-match tournament, featuring Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Each team faces the other once in the league stage, with the top two teams advancing to the final on October 23.
AFG vs BAN: Match Details
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI |
| Tournament | Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Start Time (PKT) | 4:30 PM |
| Start Time (IST) | 5:00 PM |
| Start Time (GMT) | 11:30 AM |
| Toss Time (PKT) | 4:00 PM |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE |
| Format | One-Day International |
| Afghanistan Captain | Rahmat Shah |
| Bangladesh Captain | Litton Das |
Team Overview
Afghanistan
Afghanistan will enter the match with confidence after their dominant victory over Zimbabwe. Their batting lineup showed its potential in the opening fixture, while their bowling attack demonstrated the ability to defend a substantial total.
Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be important at the top of the order, providing a combination of stability and attacking intent. Sediqullah Atal also arrives in excellent form after scoring a century against Zimbabwe. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi offer further experience in the middle order.
Afghanistan’s biggest strength remains their bowling attack. Rashid Khan can create pressure through the middle overs, while Mohammad Nabi and AM Ghazanfar provide additional spin options. Fazalhaq Farooqi will be important with the new ball, particularly if he can generate early movement.
Afghanistan will aim to build another strong batting total and use their spin resources to restrict Bangladesh during the middle overs.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh will need a significant improvement after their defeat to Zimbabwe in the opening match. Their batting lineup has the ability to compete with Afghanistan, but partnerships and better shot selection will be essential if they are to challenge the opposition.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar could provide an aggressive start, while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy will be important in the middle order. Captain Litton Das brings additional experience and flexibility to the batting lineup.
Bangladesh also possess several useful bowling options. Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam will lead the pace attack, while Mustafizur Rahman could be influential with his variations. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam provide spin options for the middle overs.
Bangladesh must improve their execution with both bat and ball to prevent Afghanistan from controlling the contest.
AFG vs BAN: Head-to-Head ODI Record
Afghanistan and Bangladesh have shared a competitive rivalry in men’s ODI cricket, with both sides recording 11 victories in their 22 meetings.
| ODI Record | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 22 |
| Afghanistan Won | 11 |
| Bangladesh Won | 11 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Results | 0 |
| First ODI Meeting | March 1, 2014 |
| Most Recent ODI Meeting | October 14, 2025 |
The record reflects an evenly balanced rivalry. However, Afghanistan have enjoyed success in recent encounters, including their victories over Bangladesh during the 2025 ODI series in the UAE.
Top Players to Watch
Ibrahim Zadran — Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran will be one of Afghanistan’s most important batters. His 90-run innings against Zimbabwe demonstrated his ability to build a substantial score while maintaining pressure on the opposition. Another strong performance could provide Afghanistan with a solid foundation.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz — Afghanistan
Gurbaz is capable of giving Afghanistan an aggressive start in the powerplay. His attacking approach can put Bangladesh’s bowlers under pressure early, although he will need to balance aggression with the importance of building a substantial opening partnership.
Rashid Khan — Afghanistan
Rashid Khan will be a major threat in the middle overs. After taking four wickets against Zimbabwe, the Afghanistan spinner will look to maintain his form and disrupt Bangladesh’s batting plans. His variations and ability to attack the stumps make him a key player in this contest.
Sediqullah Atal — Afghanistan
Atal was one of the standout performers in Afghanistan’s opening match, scoring a century against Zimbabwe. His ability to convert a start into a big innings could again prove crucial if Afghanistan bat first.
Towhid Hridoy — Bangladesh
Towhid Hridoy will be important to Bangladesh’s middle-order plans. His ability to build partnerships and accelerate when required could help Bangladesh recover if they lose early wickets. He will need to handle Afghanistan’s spin attack carefully.
Taskin Ahmed — Bangladesh
Taskin Ahmed will lead Bangladesh’s pace-bowling challenge. His ability to generate pace and take early wickets could be crucial against Afghanistan’s strong top order. Bangladesh will hope he can make breakthroughs before the hosts settle into their innings.
Official Squads
Afghanistan ODI Squad
Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai.
Travelling reserve: Qais Ahmad.
Bangladesh ODI Squad
Litton Das (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Aliss Al Islam.
AFG vs BAN: Probable Playing XIs
These are predicted lineups based on the announced squads. The official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Bangladesh Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
The final combinations may change depending on conditions, team balance and selection decisions at the toss.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report
Sharjah Cricket Stadium has traditionally offered opportunities for batters to score freely, although the surface can also assist spinners as the match progresses. The smaller boundaries can reward aggressive stroke play, making accurate bowling and effective field placements particularly important.
Afghanistan could benefit from their strong spin resources, with Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi capable of controlling the middle overs. Bangladesh will need to rotate the strike effectively and avoid allowing the spinners to build sustained pressure.
The exact condition of the match-day pitch cannot be established in advance. Both captains will need to assess the surface before deciding whether batting first or chasing offers the better opportunity.
AFG vs BAN: Live Streaming Details
| Country/Region | Broadcaster or Streaming Platform |
|---|---|
| India | FanCode |
| Bangladesh | Tapmad |
| United States and Canada | Willow by Cricbuzz through TrillerTV |
Streaming access may depend on regional rights and subscription arrangements. Viewers should check their local service for the match listing.
AFG vs BAN: Match Prediction
Afghanistan will start as the stronger side after their emphatic victory over Zimbabwe. Their batting lineup is in good form, and the combination of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and their other bowling options gives them considerable control in the middle overs.
Bangladesh have enough quality to compete, but their opening defeat exposed the need for greater consistency. Their batters must build partnerships, while the bowlers need to take early wickets and prevent Afghanistan from establishing a commanding position.
Afghanistan’s recent form, balanced squad and spin-bowling strength give them the advantage. Bangladesh could make the contest closer if their top order produces a substantial partnership and their pace attack strikes early.
Today’s Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match.
Predicted Winner: Afghanistan
Afghanistan are favourites to win the contest, particularly if they bat first and establish a competitive total. Their recent performance suggests they have the batting depth and bowling quality to secure another victory, although Bangladesh remain capable of challenging them if they improve their overall execution.
