Rahmat Shah and Abdul Malik Anchor Afghanistan Response in Abu Dhabi Test

Afghanistan reached 211/4 at stumps on Day 2 of their one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi, anchored by a career-first milestone for opener Abdul Malik and a resilient captain’s knock from Rahmat Shah. Entering the close of play trailing by 135 runs, Afghanistan recovered from middle-order stutters through an unbroken 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

The afternoon session was headlined by Malik, who scored 62 to record his maiden Test half-century. His steady approach provided the foundation Afghanistan required after the early loss of fellow opener Sediqullah Atal. Malik’s departure after tea momentarily shifted the momentum back to the Bangladeshi bowlers, but Rahmat Shah, making his debut as Afghanistan’s full-time Test captain, remained immovable at the crease.

The Afghan pace unit took a record nine wickets during the Bangladesh first innings.

Pace Attack Sets the Tone

Before the batsmen took center stage, Afghanistan’s pace unit produced a disciplined morning performance that altered the course of the match. Bangladesh, which looked set for a massive total at 221/2, suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their final eight wickets for just 125 runs. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 346 during the first session of play.

The collapse was engineered almost entirely by the Afghan seamers. Mohammad Saleem led the way with 4 wickets, while Yamin Ahmadzai provided clinical support with 3. Combined with Ismat Alam, the pace trio accounted for 9 of the 10 Bangladeshi wickets. This performance established a new venue record in Abu Dhabi for the most wickets taken by a pace attack in a single Test innings.

Rahmat Shah and Ikram Alikhil Steady the Reply

While Malik’s 62 provided the early stability, Rahmat Shah’s unbeaten 84 ensured Afghanistan stayed competitive heading into the third day. Shah displayed a blend of caution and calculated aggression, absorbing pressure whenever Bangladesh’s spinners managed to extract turn from the surface.

Following the dismissal of Malik and Baheer Shah, Afghanistan found themselves at 139/4, still nearly 200 runs behind. However, Ikram Alikhil joined his captain to navigate the final session safely. Alikhil reached stumps on 26 not out, supporting Shah in a 72-run stand that has effectively neutralized the immediate threat of a first-innings deficit. The pair will resume on Day 3 looking to overhaul Bangladesh’s 346 and establish a lead on a pitch that has shown varying behavior for both seam and spin.

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