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'This draw is equal to a win' - Rahmat Shah on Afghanistan's Test resilience

Afghanistan secured a draw against Bangladesh in their sole Test encounter at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, played between October 9 and 13, 2026. Chasing a target of 479, the visitors batted for 142 overs across both innings, finishing their second effort at 346 for 8 to deny the hosts a victory.

Captain Rahmat Shah described the result as equivalent to a win, crediting the squad for strictly adhering to a pre-match strategy that balanced aggressive scoring with time-wasting as conditions demanded.

The team's resilience was anchored by Shah's own 105 in the first innings, which helped stabilize the side after they were dismissed for 240. In the second innings, Sediqullah Atal played a pivotal role by scoring his maiden Test century, amassing 111 runs off 332 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

Shah praised Atal for maintaining composure after transitioning from T20 cricket, while also highlighting the collective contribution of the batting lineup, which included two centuries and several half-centuries throughout the match.

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