Bangladesh and Afghanistan will contest a one-off Test match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 13, 2026. The five-day fixture opens a multi-format tour of the UAE for both sides, with an ODI tri-series involving Zimbabwe to follow in the same month.
On Wednesday, September 30, it has been confirmed that the Sheikh Zayed Stadium will be the Test venue. That announcement also set out the full schedule for the ODI tri-series that runs immediately after the Test concludes. The Afghanistan Cricket Board had announced the broader series on September 8, 2026, at which point venues were yet to be confirmed.
Bangladesh are planning an early arrival in the UAE. The first group of the Test squad is due to fly to Dubai on October 1 and will take part in a two-day preparatory match against the UAE on October 4 and 5. A second group, currently representing Bangladesh at the Asian Games in Japan, will link up with the touring party on October 6, after which the full squad will move to Abu Dhabi ahead of the Test.
What does the ODI tri-series schedule look like?
The three-team ODI series runs from October 17 to 23, 2026, with matches split between Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The BCB announcement confirmed that all fixtures in the tournament will be held under floodlights.
Bangladesh open the group stage against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi on October 17. Afghanistan then take on Zimbabwe on October 19, before Bangladesh and Afghanistan face each other in Sharjah on October 21. The final is set for October 23 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The group stage therefore covers six days in total, with each of the three teams playing two matches before the standings are settled. The October 21 clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Sharjah is the last group fixture and is likely to carry considerable weight depending on how the earlier results fall.
How does qualification for the final work?
The tri-series uses a single-leg round-robin format across the group stage. Each of the three teams plays the other two sides once, giving every side two group matches before the standings are determined.
The two teams that accumulate the most points from those group fixtures will advance directly to the October 23 final in Sharjah. There are no semi-finals in this format, and the third-placed team exits after the group stage.
