Afghanistan
Preview of BAN vs AFG 3rd ODI 2023
The current one-day cricket series against Afghanistan is not going well for the Bangladesh cricket team. The first one-day match of the series was interrupted by rain. Bangladesh lost by 17 runs in this match by the Duckworth Lewis method. After that, even though the captain was changed, it was not possible to change the fate of the Tigers. Bangladesh lost again in the second match by 142 runs. Afghanistan and Bangladesh will play the last match of the 2023 BAN vs AFG series on July 11 in Chattogram.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI 2023 Preview
In the last decade, Bangladesh has played aggressive ODI cricket at home. The Tigers have only lost a series against England since June 2014. But this time, Bangladesh lost the series to Afghanistan. Afghans have won the series by keeping one match in hand in the ongoing ODI series in Chattogram. Now they want to whitewash Bangladesh.
In the second ODI match, the Tigers chose to field after winning the toss against Afghanistan in Chattogram on Saturday. Afghanistan’s two openers played outstanding innings and set a challenging target of 332 runs for Bangladesh. The Afghans also completely destroyed Bangladesh's batting order. With consecutive wickets falling, the Tigers reached a combined score of 189 runs. Ultimately, Afghanistan secured a convincing victory, winning by a margin of 142 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a phenomenal century, was named the man of the match.
Ebadot Hossain is out of BAN vs AFG Series 2023
Ebadot was injured during the second ODI against Afghanistan. That knee injury knocked Ebadot Hossain out of the entire Afghanistan series. He is not in the squad for the third ODI in Chattogram as well as Sylhet’s three-match T20 series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the matter in a circular on Sunday.
Read more: Ebadot ruled out of remaining Afghan fixtures
However, according to Muzadded Alpha Sany, the physiotherapist of the Bangladesh team, the initial assessment of the player’s injury suggests that it is not severe. They anticipate that it will take approximately two weeks to fully recover. Ebadot will undergo rehabilitation during this period.
Bangladesh’s Predicted Playing XI for 3rd ODI
Litton Das (c), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
Bangladeshi Key Players from Previous Game of 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI Series
Player
Performance
Mushfiqur Rahim
69 runs
Shakib Al Hasan
25 runs and took 2 wickets
Afghanistan’s Predicted Playing XI for 3rd ODI
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmed, Azmatullah Omarzai.
Read more: Analysis of BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI 2023
Afghanistan’s Key Players from Previous Game of of 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI Series
Player
Performance
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
145 runs
Ibrahim Zadran
100 runs
Fazalhaq Farooqi
3 wickets
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
3 wickets
Pitch Report
The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Bangladesh, is renowned for its bowling-friendly pitch. Spin bowlers, in particular, find support from the pitch. In terms of ODI matches, the highest average score for the team batting first at this venue is recorded at 225 runs. Therefore, winning the toss on this field may prompt the team to choose bowling first. However, this tactic did not work in the last match. Afghanistan’s batting was extraordinary in the last match. In the last five games, the team chasing the target has emerged victorious in four instances. The batting conditions pose a challenge at the beginning of the game but tend to improve as the match progresses.
Predictions about the 2023 BAN vs AFG 3rd ODI Match
Hosts Bangladesh will be aiming for a victory in the third and final ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan in order to save their pride. Their performance in the second ODI was dismal, suffering a crushing defeat, marking their largest loss against Afghanistan. Despite the off-field controversies surrounding the team, they must regroup and deliver an improved performance in this crucial match. On the other hand, Afghanistan will be determined to seal the series 3-0 and will be looking to dominate their opponents.
After winning the last two games, Afghanistan has maintained an edge over Bangladesh in recent encounters. The outstanding form of their opening batsmen adds to their team’s confidence. The Bangladeshi camp appears to be dealing with various issues, making it interesting to see if the hosts can overcome these challenges and prevent a whitewash. However, the Afghans surely have a competitive edge in this series, and their winning probability in the last match is very high. Still, we are expecting a close game.
Read more: Harmanpreet's Fifty Guides India to Easy Win Over Bangladesh
Final Words
From the beginning, Bangladesh has been considering the 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI series as preparation for the upcoming World Cup. But this outcome was not expected at all. In the last two matches, Bangladesh’s top order failed miserably. So, the Tigers will need to focus on the top order to get the expected outcome.
Analysis of BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI 2023
The Tigers had already lost the first match of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Because of this, a loss in the second match leads to a loss in the series. Tigers played the second match of the series yesterday in Chattogram and lost by a huge margin of 142 runs in the second BAN vs AFG ODI match in 2023.
Afghanistan’s Batting Performance
Litton Das won the toss and invited Afghanistan to bat first. The two openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ibrahim Zadran, started bashing Bangladeshi bowlers right from the beginning of the innings. They scored 256 runs off 221 balls. While making this record, the Rahmanullah-Ibrahim pair surpassed Javed Ahmadi and Karim Sadiq. Javed and Karim set a record of 142 in the opening partnership against the Netherlands in Sharjah, UAE, in 2012. The 256 runs partnership is Afghanistan’s highest partnership for any wicket in ODIs.
Shakib Al Hasan stopped Gurbaz through LBW. Prior to that, he achieved his fourth century in his 20th ODI match. Rahmanullah displayed an outstanding performance, accumulating a career-best of 145 runs from 125 deliveries, comprising 13 boundaries and 8 sixes, before departing from the field. However, following Rahmanullah's dismissal, Afghanistan's batting order experienced a significant collapse. Despite a strong start of scoring 256 runs without losing a single wicket, Afghanistan faced a dramatic downfall, losing 9 wickets for just 75 runs. Starting at number three, Rahmat Shah could only manage to contribute 2 runs from 5 deliveries before departing.
Read more: Afghanistan thrash Bangladesh to wrap up maiden ODI series win
Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 2 runs in 7 balls. Najibullah Zadran was Miraz’s second victim for 10 runs off 15 balls.
However, Ibrahim Zadran was batting responsibly from the beginning. Cutter Master Mustafizur Rahman sent him back to the pavilion after picking up the century. Ibrahim scored 100 runs with the help of 9 fours and a six off 119 balls.
After that, Afghan star leg spinner Rashid Khan, pacer Azmatullah Omarzai, off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi returned after scoring 6, 2, 5 and 1 runs respectively. Afghanistan scored 331 runs for 9 wickets.
Read more: Explosive centuries by openers power Afghanistan to 331 vs Bangladesh
Preview of BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI 2023
Following their victory in the first ODI of the 2023 BAN vs AFG ODI series, Afghanistan will surely aim to maintain their strong performance in the second match of the three-match series. The match will take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The match will start at 2:00 pm on July 8, 2023.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI 2023 Preview
Bangladesh received a significant setback as their captain, Tamim Iqbal, will not be available for the remaining two ODIs. The 34-year-old cricketer announced his retirement right after the first ODI. In the recent One-off Test match, Litton Das took charge as the captain. And Litton Das will be the captain for BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI 2023.
The first ODI between the two teams was a rain-affected match. The visiting team's strong performance played a crucial role in their victory through the Duckworth–Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. In the last match, the Bangladesh team gave one of the most disappointing performances in recent times. Bangladesh struggled to reach a total of 169/9 in 43 overs, with only Towhid Hridoy achieving a half-century. Afghanistan, in their chase, had Ibrahim Zadran contribute significantly with 41 runs, driving them to 83/2 in 21.2 overs. However, rain intervened once again, and the match's outcome was determined by the DLS method.
Read more: Tamim Iqbal's International Cricket Career Overview: Records and Achievements
Looking ahead, Bangladesh will be missing the presence of Tamim, who has been replaced by Rony Talukdar in the squad.
Table: Top performers of BAN vs AFG first ODI
Players
Role
Performance
Towhid Hridoy
Batter
51 runs from 69 balls
Litton Das
Batter
26 runs from 35 balls
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Bowler
Took 3 wickets
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Bowler
Took 2 wickets
Ibrahim Zadran
Batter
41 runs from 58 balls
Shakib Al Hassan
All rounder
Took 1 wicket with 1.8 economy rate
Who has the competitive edge considering the overall ODI records so far?
Afghanistan entered the white-ball series after facing a 2-1 defeat against Sri Lanka in the 50-over format. Before that, they emerged victorious in a T20I series against an inexperienced Pakistan team, winning 2-1. In contrast, Bangladesh enjoyed victory in the ODI series against Ireland, sweeping them aside with a 2-0 victory.
When it comes to both teams’ overall head-to-head record, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced each other 12 times in the 50-over format. Out of these encounters, Bangladesh have emerged victorious on seven occasions, while Afghanistan have triumphed five times. In the recent first ODI, Afghanistan’s win ended Bangladesh’s four-match winning streak against them.
Read more: Litton Das replaces Tamim as Bangladesh's ODI captain
Table: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record So Far
Number of Matches
Bangladesh’s Win
Afghanistan’s Win
Bangladesh’s Win at Home
Afghanistan’s Away Win
Results in Neutral Ground
12
7
5
4
4
Bangladesh’s win 3
Afghanistan’s win 1
So, considering the past meetings, Bangladesh have competitive edge over the Afghans.
Bangladesh’s Strengths and Weakness
Chattogram’s wicket was a bit weird in the last match. Despite losing the first ODI against Afghanistan, the top performer of that match, Towhid Hridoy, has no complaints about Chattogram's wicket. Rather, the team’s batting failure is the main reason, and it was Bangladesh’s weakness in the last match. The correct rhythm among the top orders is necessary to score a big hit. However, it is expected that the team will learn from the mistake and turn around in the 2023 BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI.
As Chattogram’s wicket is spin-friendly, spinners like Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be Bangladesh’s trump cards. However, fast bowlers also did pretty well in the last match. So, they can also be assets. Mustafiz’s 2.5 econ rate in 4 overs has helped to slow down Afghan run machine.
Read more: Tamim's sudden retirement leaves teammates shattered and emotional
Afghanistan’s Strengths and Weakness
According to Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, their spin has become world-renowned in recent days. And we should admit this. Also, we saw that in the last match. The performances of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan have slowed down the Tigers. Mujeeb had a 2.6 econ rate from 9 overs, and Rashid gave 2.3 runs on average from 9 overs. So, spin dependency is definitely Afghanistan’s greatest strength.
Afghans are gradually improving themselves. They have failed several times to maintain synchronisation within the team. So, this might be a weakness. However, they have overcome that in recent matches.
Probable Player List of 2023 BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI
Probable XI for Bangladesh
Litton Das, Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman.
Probable XI for Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sayed Shirzad, Izharulhaq Naveed.
Read more: ‘Match against Afghanistan final match of my career’: A weeping Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from international cricket
Key Players of BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI Match 2023
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan, the experienced all-rounder, has been considered one of the best all-rounders in the world for the past two decades. He has shown outstanding skills both as a batsman and a bowler. After recovering from a finger injury, Shakib is even more motivated to make significant contributions to his team’s success. This year, the all-rounder has scored 312 runs from eight innings in ODIs. He has maintained an average of 39 runs per inning with the bat. As a bowler, Shakib has taken eight wickets, including a four-wicket haul.
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
In 2023, Ibrahim Zadran accumulated 215 runs in four innings so far. He boasts an impressive batting average of 71.66. Interestingly, in the previous year, he had an even higher average of 71.83 in the ODI format. These numbers highlight Ibrahim’s remarkable consistency as an opener for his team.
Who will win the BAN vs AFG 2nd ODI?
The Afghanistan team displayed brilliance in all aspects of the game in their previous match against Bangladesh. Although the Tigers will be eager to make a comeback, it will not be easy to overpower the visitors. Afghanistan have momentum on their side, led by Hashmatullah and his teammates, and the conditions also favour them.
Final Words
The host team, Bangladesh, will surely aim for a strong comeback in the 2023 BAN vs AFG 2nd match. However, the sudden retirement announcement from Tamim may create an imbalance in the team’s rhythm. But, still, we are hoping for the best and want to see a good clash.
Analysis of BAN vs AFG 1st ODI 2023
Analysis of BAN vs AFG 1st ODI 2023
The first match of the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI series 2023 started like a nightmare for the Tigers. Afghanistan emerged victorious in the first ODI against Bangladesh, defeating the hosts by a margin of 17 runs (according to the DLS method) in a rain-affected match. However, the performance of the Tigers was disappointing throughout the match. Let’s go over the overall performance of both teams.
Bangladesh’s Batting Performance
Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and sent the Tigers to bat first at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. However, Bangladesh could not move towards a big goal as no one could score runs except Towhid Hridoy. And rain also hampered the match.
Bangladesh lost 7 wickets for 139 runs. In the rain-interrupted match, they finally scored 169 for 9 in 43 overs, but it was not enough to fight.
Tamim Iqbal could not stay on the wicket for long. He departed after scoring 13 runs off 21 balls. In the 12th over of the innings, Litton went back with a catch at deep square leg by Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Litton could have played the short-length ball from Mujeeb down if he wanted to. But while picking it up, Rahmat Shah caught it at deep square. Litton Das scored 26 runs off 35 balls.
Read more: Afghanistan outplay Bangladesh in first ODI match marred by rain
After that, Najmul Hossain Shanto was the hope for Bangladesh. Shanto is the most trusted name in Bangladesh’s batting lineup in recent times. Even yesterday, he started positively. But the innings was not long enough. Mohammad Nabi hit in his first ball, and Shanto gave the catch at short fine leg while sweeping. Bangladesh was under some pressure after losing 2 wickets in 2 consecutive overs.
After one ball in the sixteenth over, the match was stopped due to rain. After losing 3 wickets for 72 runs, Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid Hridoy were guiding the Tigers. However, Shakib seemed to be feeling the pressure as he couldn’t keep the run wheels going like that. The all-rounder was caught by Mohammad Nabi while playing an off-side shot by Azmatullah Omarzai. As a result, he broke the partnership, and Shakib scored 14 runs off 34 balls.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who came to the crease after that, could not spark yesterday. Facing Rashid Khan’s terrible googly, Mushfiqur scored 1 run from 3 balls. Bangladesh’s top-order batting lineup collapsed in front of the Afghan spinners. Afif, who was out of the main squad for a while, returned to the team with this series. But he also could not accompany Towhid. After that, Miraz came to the pitch, and he scored 5 from 23 balls. At last, Bangladesh collected 169 runs for 9 wickets. Overall, Towhid Hridoy was the key player for Bangladesh yesterday, and he scored 51 from 69 balls.
Read more: Watch Live BAN vs AFG Series 2023 on Toffee: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI cricket series will be broadcasted live on Toffee app
Don’t want US foreign policy failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya repeated in Bangladesh: Elected Bangladeshi-American officials, activists write to Biden
Bangladeshi-American elected officials, and members of human rights as well as professional organizations have urged US President Joe Biden to change the current course of action and ensure a violence-free, secular, democratic future for Bangladesh.
In a statement addressed to Biden, the Bangladeshi-Americans said that they are concerned about the repeated failure of the US foreign policy in its attempt to “establish democracy” without considering the historical and socio-political context in Muslim countries and regions.
“The vivid examples of American foreign policy failure are Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya. We don’t want that to happen in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
The recent US policies and rhetoric are only “motivating terrorists and confounding liberal forces,” said the signatories of the statement.
The Bangladeshi-American elected officials, rights activists, and professionals also said they firmly support Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s strategies in combating terrorism in Bangladesh and South Asia.
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“While we appreciate the concern of your administration about the upcoming election in Bangladesh, the US policy must also consider the widespread terrorism incidents in Bangladesh perpetrated directly by the BNP-Jamaat alliance and terrorist groups under the patronage of the alliance,” they said in the statement.
Bangladesh held four widely praised and well-participated elections in 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008, the statement noted.
“But it appears from the current political stalemate that holding only free elections does not guarantee liberal democratic outcomes,” the signatories said.
“Especially, the terrorism incidents under government patronage between two free elections in 2001 and 2008 indicate just having a free (and so-called fair) election in 2024 indeed will not change the current political deadlock unless stakeholders find a sustainable solution guaranteeing the security, safety and post-election political participation of the minorities and political dissidents,” the statement reads.
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For example, the signatories said, in October 2001, the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition won the election under a caretaker government. Right after their victory, the coalition unleashed an unprecedented attack against the Hindus and Awami League supporters across 11 districts in Bangladesh, they said.
The Hindus and opposition activists were targeted for voting for Bangladesh Awami League, they added.
The violence led to massive looting and burning of houses, rape of Hindu women, and members of the minority community being evicted from their homes.
It continued throughout the BNP-Jamaat rule during 2001-2006, in some cases, with the direct patronage of the coalition leaders, the statement reads.
While in power, the BNP-Jamaat alliance failed to ensure justice, and all the terrorism-related cases were resolved only after the coalition left political office, the signatories said.
Salman F Rahman asks Pakistan president to apologise for 1971 atrocities
They also shared a timeline of major violences during 2001-2006, under BNP-Jamaat patronage.
“Our concern is what type of democracy would be safer if Tarique Rahman and other convicts somehow manage to contest the election through the back door and win?” — they asked.
“Recently, we have been observing some actions of your administration and statements by some lawmakers sounding like anti-Bangladesh rhetoric, and these actions are hurting the US-Bangladesh relations. We are concerned about these developments and humbly urge you to take steps considering the historical perspective of the Liberation War, which aimed to establish a secular and democratic Bangladesh free of violence,” the statement reads.
“The political field of Bangladesh is populated with two opposing forces — one with the secular, liberal ideals of Bangladesh and the other with religious extremism mixed with political jingoism,” the Bangladeshi-Americans said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leads the first one, and the other side is led by the BNP-Jamaat coalition, they said.
The signatories are: elected Bangladeshi-American officials — Councilman Dr. Nuran Nabi, NJ; Mayor Mahabubul Alam Tayub, PA; State Representative Abul Khan, NH; Councilman Abu Ahmed Musa, MI; and Councilman Nurul Hasan, PA; activists — Prof. ABM Nasir, NC, of Shompriti Forum; engineer Rana Hasan Mahmud, CA and engineer Shikrity Barua, NY, of USA Bangabandhu Parishad; Golam Mostafa Khan Miraz, NY, of Bangladesh Liberation War Veterans 1971, USA Inc.; Nazrul Alam and engineer Tasnim Salam Aslam, CA, of California Bangabandhu Parishad; Fahim Reza Noor, NY, of Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, USA; engineer Ahad Ahmed, MI and Ali Ahmed Farish, MI of Michigan Bangabandhu Parishad; Zakaria Choudhury, NY of USA Committee for Democratic and Secular Bangladesh; Rumi Kabir and Mahabubur Rahman Bhuiyan, GA of Georgia Bangabandhu Parishad; Khurshid Anwar Bablu of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Solidarity Council, USA; Nasrin Munna of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Solidarity Council, USA; Dr. Abdul Baten of Muktijoddha Sangsad; Sofeda Basu, MA of Massachusetts Bangabandhu Parishad; Morshed Alam, Democratic leader, NY; Zahedul Mahmud Zami, CA of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, California Command Council; Abu Taher Bir Pratik and Kazi Shamim, PA of Pennsylvania Bangabandhu Parishad; group of academics — Prof Ziauddin Ahmed, PA; Prof Mizan R Miah, IL; Prof Jamil Talukdar, WI; Prof Shahadat Hossain, NY; Nurannabi Choudhury, NJ of South New Jersey Bangabandhu Parishad; and Tawfik Soleman Tuhin and Zamiul Belal, CA of Bangabandhu Cultural Organization.
Read more: Bangladesh's sovereign right to pursue independent policy must be respected by all: Foreign Ministry
BAN vs AFG Live ODI 2023, where to watch: TV channels and live streaming | Playing XI
Tamim Iqbal-led Bangladesh is set to take on Hashmatullah Shahidi's Afghanistan in the first ODI match of the three-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, on Wednesday. The T20I series between them ended up being a draw as both teams won one match each of he two-match contest. Here are all the details on where you can watch the match live, along with BAN vs AFG ODIs 2023 TV channels and live streaming details.
BAN vs AFG 2023 ODIs live: Where to watch Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
Bangladesh:
Live telecast of the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI series will be available on Gazi TV and T-Sports.
Bangladesh-Afghanistan cricket series will be broadcasted live on Toffee
Ban vs Afg live: All the ODIs and T20 matches between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be broadcasted live on the country's popular digital entertainment app, Toffee.
Read more: Bangladesh and Afghanistan set for high-stakes ODI showdown
Ban vs Afg Live streaming on Rabbithole App
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st ODI live will be available on the Rabbithole App
India:
The Bangladesh-Afghanistan ODI series will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website, however, there won’t be live telecast of the series on any TV channel in India.
Afghanistan:
The ODI series can be watched on RTA Sport in Afghanistan.
Rest of the world Fans outside India and Afghanistan can watch the match on the Rabbitholebd YouTube channel.
Read more: Preview of BAN vs AFG 1st ODI 2023
Also Various Facebook page and youtube channels will live the match
BAN vs AFG 1st ODI Predicted Playing XI
Bangladesh XI against Afghanistan
Bangladesh:
Tamim Iqbal(c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mohammad Naim, Litton Das(w), Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam
Afghanistan XI against Bangladesh
Read more: Tamim determined to play despite fitness concerns in Afghanistan Series Opener
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Sayed Shirzad/Zia-ur-Rehman
Preview of BAN vs AFG 1st ODI 2023
On Wednesday, July 5, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram will witness the clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan as they start their three-match ODI series. In their recent limited-overs series, the two teams experienced contrasting results. Afghanistan faced a 1-2 defeat against Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh comfortably achieved a 2-0 victory against Ireland on their home ground. However, both teams will surely try to win the series. Here’s what to expect from BAN vs AFG 1st ODI.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Series 2023: 1st ODI Preview
Tamim Iqbal, who has been absent from cricket due to recent injuries, will lead the Bangladesh team. Unfortunately, his batting form has been less than impressive. However, the Tigers have received a boost with the return of Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the last Test due to a finger injury.
With a positive momentum, Bangladesh is set to enter the upcoming series against Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Bangladesh acknowledges the immense talent and versatility of Afghanistan's squad and will not underestimate their opponents. Historically, the pitch at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium has provided an advantage for spinners, often being slow in nature.
The return of Shakib and Rashid Khan will surely help both teams to give a tough fight. Rashid, the leg-spinner, has returned to white-ball cricket, and so is the tone of confidence in the Afghan team. Rashid was injured before the series against Sri Lanka last month. That is why he could not play the first two ODIs. The Afghanistan team management did not want to take the risk of playing him in the Mirpur Test after a few days, even though he returned for the last match.
Read more: Tamim determined to play despite fitness concerns in Afghanistan Series Opener
On the Afghan side, Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the team. Spinner Izharulhaq Naveed has received his maiden ODI call-up, although it is unlikely that he will make an appearance in the first ODI. Alongside Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi are anticipated to play crucial roles for the Afghanistan team. Ibrahim Zadran showcased an outstanding performance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Fazalhaq Farooqi, the left-arm pacer, has been causing difficulties for the Bangladesh batters, making him a crucial factor in the upcoming matches.
For Bangladesh, Afif Hossain Dhrubo has made a comeback to the national team and is eager to make a strong performance. Meanwhile, Najmul Hossain Shanto has successfully turned his career around in the past 12 months and was also a strong contender for the Player of the Month award.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has shown remarkable growth as an all-rounder, and much will rely on his performance. The attention will also be on Bangladesh’s pace bowling attack, which has been exceptional in recent times.
Shakib Al Hasan, who was unable to participate in the one-off Test due to a finger injury, has now recovered and is ready to play in the ODI series. Mushfiqur Rahim will take up the role of the team’s permanent wicketkeeper.
Read more: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to Head ODI Records So Far: Who is the Favourite?
Probable XI for Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal (c), Najmul Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Towhid Hirdoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain.
Probable XI for Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi ©, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia ur Rehman.
Key Players od BAN vs AFG 1st ODI Match 2023
Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh)
Taskin Ahmed has successfully recovered from an injury and is ready to join the team again. He was selected for the Bangladesh Test team to play a single match against Afghanistan. Taskin showed his skills by taking four wickets in the second innings of the match.
As a result, he is expected to be the strongest and most intimidating bowler for Bangladesh. In his ODI career, Taskin has taken 78 wickets in the 57 matches he has played. Recently, he had a great performance in the last three ODIs, where he took a total of five wickets.
Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh ODI Squad Analysis
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan, who last played in an ODI series in November of the previous year, is now entering the upcoming series after a successful performance in the IPL. Although he took a break during the Sri Lanka ODI series and the one-off Test series, it is expected that he will continue his outstanding form and make a big impact.
Rashid’s performance against Bangladesh was brilliant. He has got 15 wickets in 9 matches so far in ODIs. Runs per over are just 3.85 runs! He made a big contribution with 3 wickets for 37 runs in Afghanistan’s only win in the series between these two teams last year.
As a 24-year-old spinner, Rashid always impresses with both his bowling and batting skills. In his career, he has played 87 ODI matches for Afghanistan and taken 163 wickets. In the last three ODIs alone, Rashid managed to take a total of eight wickets.
Who is the Favourite to Win?
In one-day internationals, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced each other 11 times. Bangladesh won seven of these matches, with four victories on their home ground and three on neutral venues. On the other hand, Afghanistan have won four matches against Bangladesh, with none of the wins being at home, and three were on away venues.
Read more: Najmul Hossain Shanto: A Rising Star in Bangladeshi Cricket
So, considering the previous record, Bangladesh have a great chance to win. Tigers have proven to be a difficult team to defeat in their home conditions. As a result, they will enter the match as favourites, although the Afghan team should not be underestimated and will likely put up a strong fight. In the first match, Afghanistan appear to have an advantage over Bangladesh due to their strong spinning department. Despite Bangladesh having more victories against Afghanistan in the past, the upcoming battle promises to be an exciting one.
Final Words
The BAN vs AFG ODI series is the continuation of the only test match played between these two teams last month. Bangladesh secured an emphatic victory over Afghanistan, winning by a massive margin of 546 runs at their home ground in Mirpur. Now is the time to see if Afghans can come back in BAN vs AFG 1st ODI.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
Tamim determined to play despite fitness concerns in Afghanistan Series Opener
Bangladesh's ODI captain, Tamim Iqbal, has stated that although he is not 100 percent fit, he intends to participate in the first match of the three-match series against Afghanistan, commencing on Wednesday (July 05, 2023) in Chattogram.
The Bangladesh team had a practice session on Tuesday (July 04, 2023) morning, during which Tamim attended but refrained from batting or fielding.
ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
"I'm not a 100 percent fit, but I've decided to play tomorrow," Tamim shared during the pre-series press conference on Tuesday in Chattogram. "I'm feeling better now," he added.
Tamim, however, mentioned that he will make the final decision regarding his participation in the next match after consulting with the medical team regarding his fitness.
"The team's well-being takes precedence," he affirmed. "I won't make any decision that could trouble the team. But I believe I'm fit to play tomorrow's match."
Every match is a tough match in the World Cup: Tamim Iqbal
While the first match of the series is scheduled for tomorrow, the remaining matches will be held on July 8 and 11 at the same venue. All matches are day-night affairs and will start at 2 pm each day.
Afghanistan recently played a one-off Test in June, and they have returned now to compete in a three-match ODI and two-match T20I series in Chattogram and Sylhet, respectively.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to Head ODI Records So Far: Who is the Favourite?
The Afghanistan team will return on July 1 for the ODI series, consisting of three matches. The series will begin on July 5, and the other two matches will be held on July 8 and July 11 at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. All the matches will start at 2 pm Bangladesh time. Although Bangladesh has not faced so many matches against Afghanistan, this series will play a vital role in preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head ODI Records So Far
Table: BAN vs AFG head-to head ODI Match records todate
Matches
Competition
Year
Winner
Score
Match 1
Asia Cup
2014
Afghanistan won by 32 runs
AFG: 254/6;
BAN: 222/10
Match 2
ICC Cricket World Cup
2015
Bangladesh won by 105 runs
BAN: 267/10
AFG: 162/10
Match 3
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2016
Bangladesh won by 7 runs
BAN: 265/10
AFG: 258/10
Match 4
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2016
Afghanistan won by 2 wickets
BAN: 208/10
AFG: 212/8
Match 5
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2016
Bangladesh won by 141 runs
BAN: 279/8
AFG: 138/10
Match 6
Asia Cup
2018
Afghanistan won by 136 runs
AFG: 255/7
BAN: 119/10
Match 7
Asia Cup
2018
Bangladesh won by 3 runs
BAN: 249/7
AFG: 246/7
Match 8
ICC Cricket World Cup
2019
Bangladesh won by 62 runs
BAN: 262/7
AFG: 200/10
Match 9
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2022
Bangladesh won by 4 wickets
AFG: 215/10
BAN: 219/6
Match 10
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2022
Bangladesh won by 88 runs
BAN: 306/4
AFG: 218/10
Match 11
Afghanistan in Bangladesh ODI Series
2022
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
BAN: 192/10
AGF: 193/3
Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh T20 Squad Analysis
Bangladesh and Afghanistan have played a total of 11 ODI matches against each other. Out of these 11 matches, Bangladesh has won 7 of them, which means they have won about 64% of the matches. On the other hand, Afghanistan has won 4 matches, which is about 36% of the total. So, based on their past ODI encounters, Bangladesh has been more successful than Afghanistan.
The first time Bangladesh and Afghanistan faced each other in a one-day international (ODI) match was on March 1, 2014, during the Asia Cup. The most recent ODI match between the two teams happened on February 28, 2022.
So far, Bangladesh has met Afghanistan three times in the Asian Cup, in 2014 and 2018. In these three matches, Bangladesh won only once in the 2014 super four round. Further, they met twice in the ICC Cricket World Cup, and Bangladesh won both matches. Apart from these competitive events, both countries faced each other in two bilateral ODI series in 2016 and 2022. However, Bangladesh won both series by 2-1.
Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh ODI Squad Analysis
BAN vs AFG ODI Series 2016
In the first match of the 2016 series, Bangladesh emerged victorious, winning by 7 runs. Bangladesh set a target of 265 runs, and Afghanistan came close with a score of 258 runs but fell short. The second match saw Afghanistan turn the tables, winning by 2 wickets. Bangladesh scored 208 runs, but Afghanistan chased it down, scoring 212 runs with just 2 wickets remaining. However, Bangladesh came back strongly in the third match, winning by a massive margin of 141 runs. Bangladesh scored a total of 279 runs, and Afghanistan could only manage 138 runs in response. Overall, the series showcased some thrilling encounters and competitive performances from both teams.
BAN vs AFG ODI Series 2022
In the first match, Bangladesh won by 4 wickets. Afghanistan scored 215 runs in 10 wickets, but Bangladesh did a good job and reached 219 runs with 4 wickets remaining. The second match was dominated by Bangladesh, who won by a big margin of 88 runs. Bangladesh scored a high total of 306 runs, and Afghanistan could only manage to score 218 runs. However, Afghanistan fought back and won the third match by 7 wickets. Bangladesh had a hard time scoring and was all out for 192 runs, while Afghanistan easily scored 193 runs with 7 wickets left. In the end, Bangladesh won the series by winning two out of the three matches. Both teams played well and showed good competition.
BAN vs AFG ODI Series 2023: Who is the Favourite to Win?
Bangladesh have already become a favorite by winning the Test match against the Afghans. Apart from this, Bangladesh’s win in the last two series against Ireland also makes it positive about winning against Afghanistan. Considering their past performances, Bangladesh seems to have a winning probability in the upcoming ODI series in 2023. However, cricket is a sport where anything can happen, and Afghanistan has proven to be a strong opponent.
Furthermore, Bangladesh’s star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and Afghanistan’s star player Rashid Khan are back in their teams. They were absent from the Test match. As these two players can change the momentum at any time, anything can happen. So, it will be an exciting and closely contested series between the two teams.
Read more: Najmul Hossain Shanto: A Rising Star in Bangladeshi Cricket
Final Words
Although Bangladesh blew away the Afghans in the only Test match, it will not be easy to win the ODI matches. Bangladesh won the Test match by a record margin of 546 runs. Rashid Khan is returning to the squad, and both teams are close in terms of strength in ODI. The Afghans will come back refreshed after a break, and the loss in the Test match will surely influence them to take revenge. So, after the upcoming ODI series, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan head-to-head record will surely change significantly.
BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh T20 Squad Analysis
Bangladesh will play two T20 matches in the going series against Afghanistan. Both of these T20 matches will take place in the Sylhet International Stadium on July 14 and 16. Both matches will start at 6 pm. Before the T20 matches, the two teams will play a three-match ODI series in Chattogram. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the T20 team on Sunday (June 18, 2023), the day after announcing the ODI team. Let's take a look at the T20 team of Bangladesh in the upcoming series.
Bangladesh T20 Squad to Play Against Afghanistan
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Litton Das, Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Afif Hossain.
Analysis of Bangladesh T20 Team for the BAN VS AFG Series 2023
Last March, Bangladesh played a three-match T20 series with Ireland in Chattogram, in which Shakib’s team won by 2-1. The selectors kept the team almost unchanged in that series. Rony Talukdar was left out of the squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan but retained his place in the T20I.
Bangladesh has added Afif Hossain and Ebadot Hossain to the T20 team for the upcoming two-match series against Afghanistan. However, Jaker Ali, who was part of the squad for the series against Ireland in March, did not make it into the team this time. Ebadot can add great strength to the Bangladesh team.
Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh ODI Squad Analysis
Afif Hossain, who is also included in the ODI squad, last played in T20 matches against England in March. In his 62 T20I appearances, he scored a total of 1020 runs at a strike rate of 120.28. In contrast, Ebadot Hossain did not participate in the T20 matches against England or Ireland. His most recent T20 game was during the T20 World Cup in November last year. He started playing T20 matches during the Asia Cup in 2022 and has taken seven wickets in four T20I matches so far. Recently, in the one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this week, he performed well by taking four wickets for 47 runs.
Bangladesh has included five pacers in the T20 team so that pacers can be altered if needed. That is why Ebadot is included in the team. It also seems that he will be effective in T20.
Key Players in Bangladesh Squad for the 2023 BAN vs AFG T20 Matches
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Although Shanto couldn’t do well in the last T20 series against Ireland, he did incredibly well in the T20 series between Bangladesh and England. He scored a total of 144 runs and had a huge impact on the games, with an impact score of 153.2 over the three matches. He showed his amazing skills in cricket and had an average impact of 51 per match.
Apart from the last T20 series, Shanto has been very aggressive in other formats, which we have seen in a recently ended Test match against the Afghans. So, it can be expected that the player will surely give his best in the T20 matches.
Read more: Najmul Hossain Shanto: A Rising Star in Bangladeshi Cricket
Rony Talukdar
Rony has played only seven T20 matches for Bangladesh, and he played six matches this year and proved himself as an impactful player. In his 7 matches, Rony scored 200 runs in total with a highest score of 67 and 139.86 strike rate. This indicates that he was able to score runs at a good pace. Overall, Rony showed his skills and contributed significantly to the team’s success in the last six T20 matches.
Litton Das
Litton’s performance was incredible in the last T20 series against the Irish. He scored 136 runs in three matches, with 83 runs in the second match. Litton was so aggressive that he broke the record of scoring 50 from 20 balls made by Mohammad Ashraful 16 years ago and reached 50 in 18 balls. He has played in a total of 71 matches and scored a remarkable 1617 runs, with 83 being his highest score. Litton’s strike rate is 132.43, which means he is a hard hitter and can score quickly. Considering his last performance, it can be said that Litton will surely spark in any of the two matches.
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the team, played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s clean sweep against England. His strategy and plans were impressive, and many people admire his cricket knowledge. Shakib showed excellent decision-making and stayed calm throughout the series against England. He was particularly skilled at managing his bowlers, making sure they performed well.
Later he was also impressive in the Ireland series. In the second match, Shakib performed amazingly by taking 5 wickets and giving away only 22 runs in just 4 overs. This is the second time he has taken 5 wickets in a T20 match, and it’s one of his best bowling performances. With those five wickets, Shakib now holds the record for the most wickets in international T20 cricket. Throughout his career, he has taken a total of 136 wickets in 114 T20 matches. So, we can expect to see his excellent leadership and performance again when Bangladesh plays against Afghanistan.
Read more: Key Performers in BAN vs AFG Test 2023
Final Words
Unlike the previous T20 series, the selectors of Bangladesh squad did not keep an extra wicket-keeper batsman in the series against Afghanistan in order to keep extra pacers. We have to wait until July 16 to see if these tactics work out or not. However, this 15-member squad for the 2023 BAN vs AFG T20 series is considered to be the full strength.