Afghanistan win toss, send Bangladesh into bat in one-off test

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss Wednesday and sent Bangladesh into bat in the one-off cricket test.

Wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das was elevated to lead Bangladesh in the test format for the first time in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out because of an injured finger.

Opening bat Tamim Iqbal was also sidelined with lower back pain, allowing a return for Zakir Hasan, who missed Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win over Ireland in April after scoring a century on test debut against India last year.

Afghanistan will be without key spin bowler Rashid Khan for its first test match in more than two years since a win over Zimbabwe at Abu Dhabi in March 2021. He was ruled out as a precaution to assist his recovery from a lower back injury sustained during the Indian Premier League.

Pace bowler Nijatullah Masood and allrounder Karim Janat are on debut.

Lineups:

Bangladesh: Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (captain), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Nasir Jamal, Karim Janat, Afsar Zazai, Hamza Hotak, Zahir Khan, Nijatullah Masood, Yamin Ahmadzai.

Source: The Associated Press