A Test match between two nations can be performed in one of many premier cricket stadiums, and in entrance of a dwell TV viewers. If that is thought-about as sufficient of a context, then the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan one-off Test is related. Otherwise, sandwiched between the World Test Championship ultimate and the upcoming Ashes, this contest in Dhaka, being held bang in the midst of Bangladesh's monsoon season, struggles to achieve significance for his or her followers.
The Future Tours Programme initially had this sequence scheduled as a two-match affair, earlier than one Test was lower off. That, maybe, is a sign that even the solitary Test appears misplaced, not least when each side can be fairly extra keenly wanting ahead to the ODI World Cup, which is lower than 4 months away.
Ibrahim Zadran averages 44 after 4 Tests, the place he has three half-centuries•Abu Dhabi Cricket
Bangladesh WLLLLL(final 5 accomplished matches; most up-to-date first)Afghanistan WLLWW
The inexperienced pitch in Mirpur would put the onus on Bangladesh's quick bowlers to give you a match-winning exhibiting. Taskin Ahmed is taken into account the chief of the pack, which additionally consists of Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and the uncapped Musfik Hasan. A 3-man tempo assault is almost definitely towards Afghanistan, though coach Chandika Hathurusinghe hinted that Bangladesh would possibly even think about fielding 4 tempo bowlers.
Bangladesh can be pressured to make no less than one change, with Shakib out whilst Tamim additionally stays a doubt. On Monday, Litton stated that he wish to go together with 5 bowlers though it's unlikely that Taskin Ahmed can be introduced again so quickly after recovering from a aspect pressure.
Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain
Afghanistan (possible): 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Abdul Malik, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Bahir Shah, 6 Karim Janat, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Amir Hamza, 9 Yamin Ahmadzai, 10 Izharulhaq Naweed, 11 Zahir Khan
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is one away from 50 wickets on the Shere Bangla National Stadium•AFP/Getty Images
There was a shocking tinge of inexperienced on the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch when the bottom workers unveiled it amid the rain breaks two days earlier than the sport. And if the forecast seems to be true, there's more likely to be quite a few rain interruptions all through the 5 days. Not a lot tempo and bounce is predicted on the venue.
"The expectation is high. We are here to play good cricket, and want to win the game. Yes, we had a gap because the last time we played [was] against Zimbabwe two years ago. [But] we play domestic first-class games, and lots of players are involved in that."Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stays hopeful regardless of an absence of publicity to Test cricket
"Most of our players played against West Indies A recently. Many have been playing cricket quite regularly. Some of us have also been playing one-day cricket recently. I think if we can do a mental shift, we won't have too many problems."Bangladesh's stand-in captain Litton Das is assured of their build-up
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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