The battleground between visiting Afghanistan and hots Bangladesh shifts from Chattogram to Sylhet for the two matches T20 series starting tomorrow (July 14).
The other match will be played at the same venue on 16 July 2023. Bangladesh could avoid getting whitewashed in three matches ODI series bouncing strongly back in the 3rd match. T20 is the strongest forte of the Afghans while Bangladesh struggles to come to terms in this format. Several Afghan players are hotly sought after commodity in the T20 franchise world over.
However, with the best all rounder Shakib Al Hasan spearheading, team Tigers with several upcoming bright youngsters and some sterling performances at home in the recent past are expected to prove very competitive. The controversies that created some bad breadth during the ODI series is hopefully done and dusted. Rashid Khan, the blockbuster leg spinner will lead Afghanistan. The team posses some top players of white ball cricket and may prove hard nut to crack. However, several young players performing well in recent format for tigers may not like to concede without fight. We expect much keener contest in the T20 series.
Afghanistan last visited Bangladesh prior to the one off test last month in 2022. The two T20 matches played at SBNCS Dhaka ended 1-1. Bangladesh won the first match by 61 runs while Afghanistan levelled the series winning the 2nd match by 8 wickets. Litton Das was the highest run getter while Fazal Haq Faooqi emerged as the highest wicket taker.
In terms of head -to- head contest in T20 international the teams met 9 matches. Afghanistan won 6 and Bangladesh won 3 matches. Overall Afghanistan played 113 T20 International so far winning 72 and losing 40. Bangladesh played 150 T20Is, lost 93 and won 54. Afghanistan is considered a much stronger team and starts as favorite in the series.
T20 Squads
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Litton Kumar Das (wicketkeeper), Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Afif Hossain Dhrubo.
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (captain), Ramanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Sediq Atal, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nijat Masood, Wafadar Momand, Farid Ahmad Malik, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Bangladesh in the first two matches of the just concluded ODI series batted very poorly against formidable Afghanistan bowling attack. The bowlers also looked completely lost. Ramanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran punished Bangladesh bowling mercilessly. But in the third match Bangladesh bowlers crashed Afghan batting to the pulp. Rashid Khan however was rested in the match. In 20 it will be a head to head clash between two of the top players of the world Shakib leading Bangladesh and Rashid appearing for the Afghans. Rashid will have Mujeeb, Nabi and Noor Ahmed with him as spinners, He will also get Wafadar Momand alongside Fazal Farooqi as pacer.
On the other hand, vastly improved pace trio Taskin, Hasan Mahmood, Shoriful Islam will be available alongside Mustafizur for Shakib. He himself, Mehedy Miraj and Nasum Ahmed will be the leading spinners for Bangladesh. Well with no Tamim, Mushfique or Riad in T20 squad Shakib will also have to lead from the front in batting. Litton, Shanto, Hridoy, and Miraj have performed well in the recent time in the format. Afghan batting will rely on Gurbaz, Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Ibrahim Zadran, and Nazibullah Zadran. Afghans love T20 and it goes with their nature.
Sylhet wicket in the recent past appeared sporting. It will be a very exciting contest and Bangladeshi cricket admirers will be hoping against the hope.
BDST: 0746 HRS, JULY 13, 2023
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