After the completion of the ODI series in Chattogram, the players of Bangladesh and Afghanistan teams reached Sylhet to play two T20I matches. The BAN vs AFG T20I series will start on Friday, July 14, 2023, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. After that, the second T20I between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be played on the same ground next Saturday, July 16, 2023. Both matches will start at 6 pm.
Preview of the 2023 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Match
The difference in strength and experience between the two teams is obvious in ODIs. But in T20I, Bangladesh should take Afghanistan seriously for various reasons. In this format, the two teams are almost equal in terms of strength, experience, and field success. Rather, Afghanistan should be put forward with some consideration.
The upcoming T20I series will mark Bangladesh's return to the format after their last match in March, where they secured a 2-1 home series victory against Ireland. Similarly, this series holds significance for Afghanistan as well, as it will be their first assignment since their impressive 2-1 series triumph against Pakistan in the UAE back in March.
The leadership role of the Bangladesh team will be in the hands of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, while the talented spinner Rashid Khan will be leading the Afghanistan side. This T20I series will mark the tenth and eleventh encounters between the two teams in this format, adding to their rivalry and history in T20I cricket. Further, Shakib Al Hasan's leadership will bring experience and strategic insight to the Bangladesh team, while his exceptional skills as an all-rounder will make him a key player in both the batting and bowling departments. On the other hand, Rashid Khan's captaincy will be backed by his immense talent as a world-class spinner, capable of turning the game in Afghanistan's favor with his exceptional spin variations and smart cricketing mind.
Read more: Overview of BAN vs AFG ODI Series 2023
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head to Head: Who has Competitive Edge?
Table: Head to head T20 records between Bangladesh and Afghanistan So Far
| Matches | Year | Winner | Score |
| Match 1 | 2014 | Bangladesh won by 9 wickets |
AFG: 72/10 BAN: 78/1 |
| Match 2 | 2018 | Afghanistan won by 45 runs |
AFG: 167/8 BAN: 122/10 |
| Match 3 | 2018 | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
BAN: 134/8 AFG: 135/4 |
| Match 4 | 2018 | Afghanistan won by 1 run |
AFG: 145/6 BAN: 144/6 |
| Match 5 | 2019 | Afghanistan won by 25 runs |
AFG: 164/6 BAN: 139/10 |
| Match 6 | 2019 | Bangladesh won by 4 wickets |
AFG: 138/7 BAN: 139/6 |
| Match 7 | 2022 | Bangladesh won by 61 runs |
BAN: 155/8 AFG: 94/10 |
| Match 8 | 2022 | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
BAN: 115/9 AFG: 121/2 |
| Match 9 | 2022 | Afghanistan won by 7 wickets |
BAN: 127/7 AFG: 131/3 |
Statistically, Afghanistan is far ahead of Bangladesh in this format. Afghans have won 6 times and Bangladesh 3 times out of nine matches. Afghanistan won easily in all of them. On the other hand, Bangladesh had to struggle to win. The two teams met twice in the bilateral series. They beat Bangladesh 3-0 at India in 2018.
Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh T20 Squad Analysis
Last year, the series between the two teams was tied 1-1. Afghanistan secured comfortable victories in the last two matches against Bangladesh, winning by 8 and 7 wickets respectively. However, it's worth noting that Bangladesh emerged victorious in two out of the last five matches between the two teams. In other words, out of the total three wins against the Afghans, the Tigers secured two in recent times.
Probable XI for Bangladesh against Afghanistan
Litton Das (wk), Najmul Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Afif Hossain, Rony Talukdar, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
Probable XI for Afghanistan against Bangladesh
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Key Players of BAN vs AFG 1st T20I Match 2023
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh)
While Shanto struggled in the last T20I series against Ireland, his performance in the T20I series against England was exceptional. He accumulated a total of 144 runs and played a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the matches, as evident from his impressive impact score of 153.2 across the three games. Shanto showcased his remarkable cricketing abilities and maintained an average impact of 51 per match. His contributions were magnificent in the success of the team against England. So, fans are expecting that he will return in his known form.
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the team, played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's remarkable clean sweep against England. Moreover, he displayed excellent decision-making skills throughout the series against England. Shakib continued to impress during the Ireland series. In the second match, he delivered an outstanding performance by capturing 5 wickets while conceding a mere 22 runs in just 4 overs. This remarkable feat marks the second time he has taken 5 wickets in a T20I match, establishing it as one of his finest bowling displays.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan is now the best T20I bowler in the world. He took over the top spot from Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka because of his amazing performance in Afghanistan's 2-1 series victory against Pakistan in Sharjah. Rashid took three wickets while giving away very few runs in the match. This is a big achievement for Rashid Khan, and it shows how talented he is as a bowler in T20I cricket. And he will surely put pressure on Bangladeshi batsmen. Also, he has the career-best rating (816) against Bangladesh.
Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)
Farooqi is the second-best T20I bowler after Rashid Khan, with a 692 rating. We have seen his tremendous performance in the recently concluded ODI series. So, he will surely keep shining in the T20I series too. Overall, he played 22 T20I matches and grabbed 26 wickets. He also took 5 wickets in the last T20I series against Bangladesh in 2022.
Ticket Price of 2023 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20I Match
The T20I match can be watched from the grandstand for BDT 1500. Apart from that, the clubhouse ticket price is BDT 500, and the Eastern Gallery ticket is BDT 300. Besides, you have to spend BDT 200 to sit and watch in the Western Gallery and Green Hill area.
Read more: BAN vs AFG Live 2023, where to watch: TV channels and live streaming | Playing XI
Final Words
After losing the ODI series, Bangladesh will certainly try to win the T20I series. However, both teams have talented players, and the series would be a great display of cricketing skills and strategies. Hence, we can expect a competitive fight in the BAN vs AFG 1st T20I.