Taijul takes two as Afghanistan opts to bat first

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan on Thursday won the toss in the one-off Test against Bangladesh and opted to bat first at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram while spinner Taijul Islam takes two before 5o.

Taijul sent Ihsanullah back to the pavilion in his initial overs hitting him bold-out and Ibrahim Zadran was caught-out with his spin ball later.

Bangladesh are going with an all-spin attack in this match. But Afghanistan kept pacer Yamin Ahmadzai who has taken nine wickets in two Tests.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan will lead the bowling attack with Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan. Bangladesh have Mahmudullah Riyad and Mosaddek Hossain in the XI to add more spin. Soumya Sarkar is the only pace-bowling option for the Tigers.

On the other hand, Afghanistan kept Mohammad Nabi, Qais Ahmed, Zahir Khan, Rahmat Shah and the captain Rashid Khan as spin options while Ahmadzai is their only pace-bowling option.

This is the first time the two sides are facing each other in Test.

With this match, Rashid became the youngest Test captain at 20 years and 350 days, surpassing Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Taibu who led his country at the age of 20 years 358 days.

Bangladesh XI: Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan.

Afghanistan XI: Ihsanullah, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan (capt), Yamin Ahmadzai, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan.