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AFG vs BAN 2026: Toby Radford praises Sediqullah Atal's technical shift that led to maiden Test century

Afghanistan’s Sediqullah Atal made history with his maiden Test century during the one-off match against Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, scoring an unhurried 111 off 332 deliveries in the second innings. His eight-hour marathon on the final day anchored Afghanistan’s total of 346 for 8, helping secure a draw in the five-day Test played from October 9–13, 2026.

Atal’s century—his first in first-class cricket and the first by an Afghan batter in a Test fourth innings—came after a significant technical overhaul, with eight boundaries and three sixes underpinning his resilience against Bangladesh’s attack.

The breakthrough was credited to Afghanistan’s batting coach, Toby Radford, who worked closely with Atal to refine his defence and footwork, particularly his weight distribution and positioning at the crease. Radford noted that Atal had initially struggled in the first innings by playing outside his natural range, but adjusted his guard, head position, and stride to better judge deliveries and leave challenging balls.

Head coach Richard Pybus praised Radford’s ability to simplify complex technical adjustments without stifling Atal’s natural instincts, while Atal himself had been battling a recent form slump before committing fully to the changes.

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