Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
Afghanistan hold on for a dramatic draw against Bangladesh
Afghanistan drew their one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, surviving the final day while chasing 479 runs to win.
Opener Sediqullah Atal made 111 after batting for eight and a half hours, helping keep Afghanistan in the match.
After Atal was out, Bangladesh looked closer to victory, but number nine Qais Ahmad stayed unbeaten on 49 as Afghanistan reached 346-8.
With about ten minutes left, Qais stopped play after appearing to suffer a hamstring cramp, delaying the match by nearly five minutes.
The stoppage recalled a disputed 2024 World Cup cramp incident involving Afghanistan player Gulbadin Naib, though the account does not establish that Qais was pretending.
Qais hit two sixes in the final over before blocking the remaining balls, securing a draw instead of a Bangladesh win.
Afghanistan drew the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi after finishing the final day on 346-8 while chasing 479.
Sediqullah Atal scored 111 from 332 balls, batting for eight-and-a-half hours.
Number nine Qais Ahmad made an unbeaten 49 and helped Afghanistan survive the final overs.
Qais briefly stopped play with a hamstring cramp with just over ten minutes left, prompting comparisons with a 2024 T20 World Cup incident.
Afghanistan had begun the final day at 132-3 and needed 347 more runs to win.
- Who
- Afghanistan and Bangladesh played the one-off Test.
- What
- Afghanistan held on for a draw while chasing a target of 479.
- When
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, the final day of the Test.
- Where
- Abu Dhabi, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
- Why
- Afghanistan batted through the final day to avoid defeat; Bangladesh were trying to complete the win.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Match outcome
Afghanistan
Afghanistan aimed to bat through the final day and save the Test.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh pushed for a win after setting Afghanistan a target of 479.
Final-day situation
Afghanistan
Afghanistan finished on 346-8, securing the draw.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh needed three more wickets to win but did not take them.
Afghanistan ended Day 4 on 132-3 in their chase of 479, with 347 runs still needed.
Atal was dismissed after tea with Afghanistan at 281-7, bringing Bangladesh close to victory.
Qais Ahmad made an unbeaten 49 as Afghanistan finished on 346-8 and drew the Test.
- Target
- 479 runs
- Afghanistan final score
- 346-8
- Sediqullah Atal
- 111 runs from 332 balls
- Qais Ahmad
- Unbeaten 49 from 80 balls
- Venue
- Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- Test format
- One-off match
What people are saying
Qais Ahmad does it again! This reminds me of Gulbadin Naib!
Oh boy, not again … we can understand from here what’s going on!
This will be rated as one of the best performances, probably the best ever, in the history of Afghanistan cricket
Sources
Cricket 2026: Qais Ahmad cramps in final overs of Afghanistan Test vs Bangladesh, helped team hang on for draw, repeat of 2024 World Cup controversy, latest news, video
Afghanistan Bat Out 142 Overs, Rescue Sensational Draw From Jaws Of Defeat vs Bangladesh In One-Off Test
Afghanistan Vs Bangladesh One-Off Test Day 4 Highlights: AFG 132/3 In Chase Of 479
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