Najmul Hossain rues missed chances as Bangladesh fail to force win against Afghanistan

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Photo by Darrian Traynor-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged that his side failed to convert several fielding opportunities during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, which ended in a draw on October 13, 2026.

The match, played from October 9 to 13, saw Bangladesh set Afghanistan a target of 479 after declaring their second innings at 372/7, only for the hosts to finish on 346/8 and deny Bangladesh a victory.

“I think we tried our best. We created a few opportunities, but we couldn’t capitalize on them. The opponent played brilliant cricket, so we have to give them credit as well, especially the way Sediqullah Atal batted,” Shanto said in the post-match press conference, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Shanto reflected on the quality of the surface and Afghanistan’s batting, crediting the opposition for their application against the bowling attack.

“Honestly, we didn’t think it would end in four days because the wicket was very good on the fourth or fifth day, even today. Although some spinners got help today, the wicket was good for all five days. The way their batters batted in this condition against our quality bowling— we definitely have to give them credit for that. However, our quality spinners or pacers should have taken 10 wickets in this innings, and we missed a few opportunities in between. Because of these small mistakes, the match ended in a draw,” Shanto said.

Why did the match end in a draw despite Bangladesh’s strong position?

Bangladesh had built a commanding lead after posting 346 in their first innings against Afghanistan‘s 240. Their second-innings declaration at 372/7 left Afghanistan needing 479 to win, a target that appeared beyond reach. However, Afghanistan’s batters showed considerable resolve on the final day to bat out the match.

Sediqullah Atal was the central figure in Afghanistan’s resistance. He scored 111 off 332 balls in the second innings, registering his maiden Test century. Atal batted for 8 hours and 34 minutes, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes. His knock is recorded as the seventh-longest in the fourth innings of a Test match, and he became the first Afghanistan batter to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test.

Qais Ahmed remained unbeaten on 49 and struck a six off the final ball of the match, ensuring Afghanistan held on for the draw. Shanto also noted that Bangladesh’s limited experience in five-day cricket was a factor.

“We play five-day Tests very rarely, so our team has less experience of a match ending in the first session on Day 4 or Day 5. Surviving in a match for such a long time and creating opportunities while tired or bowling better – this experience will help us in the upcoming series,” he said.

What did Shanto deduce as the reasons for the drawn result?

Shanto confirmed that missed chances in the field, including a run-out opportunity and dropped catches by Tanzid Hasan, played a role in Bangladesh being unable to take the remaining wickets.

“We had opportunities, but we couldn’t take them properly. Of course we made mistakes, we have to accept that. Because in such conditions, opportunities will come very rarely, so the small opportunities that do come must be taken,” he said.

The drawn result means neither side claimed a win from the one-off fixture. Bangladesh had led on first innings by 106 runs and set a substantial target, but Afghanistan’s lower-order resistance, anchored by Atal’s historic innings, proved enough to deny them the full result. Despite the frustration, Shanto was measured in his assessment of the overall performance.

“Of course it is a bit disappointing, but I wouldn’t say we played very bad cricket. We played good cricket for all five days, especially the way the bowlers suffered today in this condition and on this wicket, we have to give credit to the bowlers,” Shanto said.

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