Chasing 479 for victory, Afghanistan batted for 142 overs to finish on 346 for eight, with Sediqullah Atal's marathon 111 and a late unbeaten 49 from Qais Ahmad frustrating Bangladesh's bid for a win.
Shanto acknowledged Afghanistan's resilience, admitting that Bangladesh had failed to seize their chances despite a strong effort from their fast bowlers.
“It's disappointing, but they played brilliantly. We couldn't take our opportunities. The fast bowlers have been doing a very good job. I expected the spinners to come into the match; they tried, but Afghanistan played very good cricket,” Shanto said after the match.
Bangladesh had entered the final day needing seven wickets to secure victory, with Afghanistan on 132 for three. However, Atal's determined resistance and contributions from the lower order ensured the hosts survived the remaining 92 overs without being bowled out.
Shanto also praised Litton Das for his outstanding contributions with both the bat and the gloves. Litton scored 53 in the first innings before producing a superb 102 in the second, while also recording nine dismissals in the match to set a new record for a wicketkeeper scoring fifty-plus in both innings and registering nine dismissals in a Test.
“Really outstanding, the way Litton played. Not just in this match, over the last few years, he has been great behind the stumps. To keep for 140 overs in this heat, he showed plenty of character. I hope he can continue his batting and wicketkeeping,” Shanto said.
The Bangladesh captain also lauded Hasan Mahmud for his consistent contributions with the ball. Hasan claimed five wickets in Afghanistan's first innings and added another in the second, finishing the match with six wickets.
“Whenever I give him the ball, he does the job for the team, along with Ebadot, Taskin and Rana. I hope they will continue the way they have been performing over the last few years,” Shanto said.
