Rahmat Shah
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah led a determined fightback with an unbeaten 84 as the hosts reached 211/4 at stumps on Day 2 of the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Despite losing four wickets, Afghanistan recovered through a crucial partnership between Rahmat and Ikram Alikhil to trail Bangladesh by 135 runs. Hasan Mahmud gave Bangladesh an early breakthrough by dismissing Sediqullah Atal after the opener made 17. Ebadot Hossain then removed Kamal and Abdul Malik, who had scored 62, including a maiden Test half-century. The pair added an unbeaten 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take Afghanistan to 211/4 at stumps. Afghanistan still trail by 135 runs, leaving Day 3 finely poised.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz added to Afghanistan’s troubles by dismissing captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for a duck, leaving the hosts struggling at four wickets down. Bangladesh will look for early wickets to expose the lower order, while Rahmat and Alikhil will aim to narrow the deficit and put their side in a stronger position.