Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who previously made headlines for his heated on-field altercation with Virat Kohli, is set to make his commentary debut. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has included him in the official broadcasting panel for the one-off Test against Bangladesh.
Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan, while Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh. The one-off Test will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 13. Bangladesh have enjoyed a strong recent run while Afghanistan have played limited Test cricket.
Naveen-ul-Haq Set For Commentary Debut In AFG vs BAN Test
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed the broadcasting lineup for the Zayed Cricket Stadium fixture, with Naveen-ul-Haq taking up a special guest role. His move from the field to the commentary box adds a different dimension to the coverage of Afghanistan’s Test return.
Naveen attracted worldwide attention during the IPL 2023 after a heated confrontation with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli. The incident became one of the most talked-about moments of the season before the two players publicly ended their feud during their 2023 ODI World Cup match.
Naveen stepped away from ODI cricket after the 2023 World Cup to focus on T20 cricket but remains an active Afghanistan international in the shortest format.
Ramiz Raja, Andrew Leonard Lead AFG vs BAN Commentary Panel
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja and experienced international broadcaster Andrew Leonard will lead the commentary team for the Test. Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof will also feature, while Ahmad Farhad Fidai and Mazhar Uddin will provide regional analysis alongside Naveen-ul-Haq in his special guest role.
Announcing the Announcers! 🎙️ Introducing the commentators for the Etisalat Afghanistan vs Bangladesh One-Off Test Match Series, powered by SuperCola, starting tomorrow at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 👏 #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvBD | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam https://t.co/FE3aXFqAc2
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 8, 2026
Bangladesh will enter the contest as the stronger side on recent Test form. The team has won five of its last seven matches, including notable victories over Australia and Pakistan, and has built confidence through consistent performances from its batting unit.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, has played very little Test cricket during the last two years. The side last featured in the format against India and suffered a heavy defeat, while its bowling attack lacks experience. The team will rely heavily on its spinners and will hope to make better use of the conditions in Abu Dhabi.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s Journey From Tape-Ball Cricket To T20 Star
Naveen-ul-Haq’s cricket journey began with tape-ball cricket as a young refugee in Pakistan before he developed into one of Afghanistan’s leading death-overs bowlers.
He made his senior international debut against Bangladesh in September 2016, just two days after turning 17, and later captained Afghanistan at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where the team finished fourth.
The right-arm medium-fast bowler played a key role in Afghanistan’s run to the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He produced his standout performance against Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage with figures of 4/26.
In international cricket, Naveen-ul-Haq has taken 67 wickets in 48 T20Is at an average of 18.73, while his 15 ODIs have produced 22 wickets at 32.18. He has claimed 25 IPL wickets in 18 matches, 271 wickets in 223 domestic T20s and 31 wickets in 10 first-class appearances.
