Weather permitting, a win today against the powerful Afghanistan team at SNCS, Sylhet, will earn Bangladesh a whitewash in the two matches T20 series. 

With Asia Cup round the corner and World Cup not too far, it will give a great boost to the morale of team Tigers still come to terms with the shortest format of the game. Having lost the first match of the series in the closely contested first match on Friday in the same ground, the tourist will leave nothing unturned to bounce back. Bangladesh could restrict the free stroking Afghan top order – Gurbaz , Zazai and Ibrahim in the first match that restricted their score to 154/7. 

Hope Bangladeshis will work out how to bowl in the later stage of the match as Afghans bat deep in this particular format. If Bangladesh bat first, they should try to score at least 170. Afghanistan in their desperate attempt to win may stumble if Bangladesh bowl to a plan as they did in the last match of the ODI series. 

This will be the final match before the teams go for the Asia cup that will be held under PCB management in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 2023.

In recent times, mainly featuring younger Bangladeshi players ably led by star all rounder Shakib Al Hasan new look Bangladesh is playing fearless cricket. This was what missing from the Bangladesh earlier appearing in this game format. They bowl according to the wicket, bowl in partnership and hardly lose focus if opponent batsmen blast a few. In the middle overs spinners can squeeze. However, the form of Mustafizur is bit of a worry. He must become consistent. We are not sure whether Hasan Mahmood will be given a match today. As far as batting is concerned Rony Talukdar should get another opportunity today. 

Bangladesh openers should be careful against Fazal Haq. In the early overs he brings the ball in sharply against right hand bowlers at pace. Litton and Nazmul Shanto are due for a long innings. Shakib is starting well but has not convert good start yet. We are happy the way young Tawhid Hridoy is maturing. He has a matured head on young shoulders. He should farm strikes while batting with the tails. Shamim Hossain is brave and possesses aggressive strokes. We are not sure he can always be successful batting in the same manner as he did in the first match. Rashid Khan and Co will work him out. 

There is a threat of rain interruption. In curtailed matches, toss is crucial. Team chasing often gets additional benefits from knowing the target. However, Bangladesh should be ready for any situation as toss luck is beyond control. We once again repeat. The T20I series win, or the whitewash against Afghanistan will give Bangladesh a vast moral boost prior to global events. 

BDST: 0841 HRS, JULY 16, 2023
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