Cricket
Chandika sees Tanzim as vital to Bangladesh’s World Cup lineup
Making a noteworthy debut against India in the Asia Cup, right-arm pace bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib exhibited commendable prowess. He swiftly clinched two key wickets at the onset of the innings and subsequently held fort, defending a mere 12 runs in the final over to secure a resounding victory for Bangladesh.
This triumphant performance left an indelible mark on Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, who now envisions Tanzim as a crucial asset for the impending World Cup, set to unfold later this year in India.
Bangladesh poised to be a formidable contender in World Cup, Shakib believes
In the World Cup, Bangladesh will be without the services of pacer Ebadot Hossain, as he fell prey to a knee injury that necessitated surgical intervention. He faces a lengthy recovery period before resuming his cricketing pursuits.
In light of this void, Chandika sees Tanzim as a highly promising option to step into the breach.
“Tanzim has made a compelling case for inclusion in the Bangladesh World Cup squad,” remarked Chandika in the aftermath of the India match.
Bangladesh beat India in Asia Cup after 11 years
The Bangladesh coach also emphasized his preference for a four-man pace attack in the World Cup, with Ebadot originally factoring into this strategic blueprint. However, given the pacer's slim chances of regaining fitness in time for the tournament, Chandika is inclined towards considering Tanzim.
“I firmly believe it would not be an erroneous decision to include him in the World Cup squad,” Chandika asserted. “He has demonstrated his mettle, and his ability to bat at the late order is an added asset.”
Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India
Bangladesh's upcoming challenge is a face-off against New Zealand on home turf — a final opportunity to fine-tune their World Cup roster.
Bangladesh poised to be a formidable contender in World Cup, Shakib believes
In a thrilling denouement to their Asia Cup journey, the Bangladesh cricket team secured a narrow six-run victory over India.
Following this triumph, captain Shakib Al Hasan expressed confidence in the Tigers' potential to emerge as formidable contenders in the upcoming World Cup, slated to be held later this year in India.
Asia Cup 2023 Final Preview: India or Sri Lanka — Who Will Win?
Shakib, at the helm, delivered a pivotal performance with the bat, notching up a crucial half-century. His prowess was equally evident with the ball in the face-off against India in Colombo.
While concluding their Asia Cup campaign on a high note, the Tigers did grapple with setbacks, experiencing losses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Their other victory came against Afghanistan.
"We possess a formidable team," remarked Shakib in the aftermath of the match. "Several of our players suffered injuries during the event; some departed, while others joined midstream. Overall, it didn't bode well for our cause."
Bangladesh beat India in Asia Cup after 11 years
Shakib went on to emphasize, "However, with a fit squad, we can pose a significant threat in the World Cup."
India opted to rest some of their marquee players for the showdown against Bangladesh. Notably, Virat Kohli did not feature in the match, and Jasprit Bumrah was also granted respite.
Preview of India vs Bangladesh ODI in Asia Cup 2023
Bangladesh, too, had to contend without their star batter, Mushfiqur Rahim, while the services of right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed went overlooked.
Asia Cup 2023 Final Preview: India or Sri Lanka — Who Will Win?
Sri Lanka has reached the Asia Cup 2023 final after dramatically knocking out Pakistan on Thursday night. In the exciting final, Sri Lanka will compete against India on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 3:30 pm. The IND vs SL match will be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Preview of IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 Final Match
India secured their spot in the top two by winning a thrilling match against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours. This victory also ended Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the Asia Cup Final 2023. The defending champions, Sri Lanka, managed to defeat Pakistan in a rain-affected Super Fours game, earning their place in the final as well.
However, India’s loss to Bangladesh in the last match of the Super Four Round might reduce their confidence a bit. But, some of the game changers of India, such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav, were on rest to give their best in the final. So, India will surely come back stronger with the top players.
In the last match of the Super Four Round, India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. Bangladesh set a target of 266 runs for India. Chasing a target of 266 runs, India were bowled out for 259 runs with 1 ball to spare. They needed 12 runs in the last over with 1 wicket in hand. But they could not reach the target. Bangladesh beat India by 6 runs on Friday at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, secured the final by beating Pakistan in their last Super Four Round match. Sri Lanka won the breathtaking ODI match in the last ball. Because of rain, the game was shortened to 42 overs. Pakistan batted first and managed to score 252 runs while losing 7 wickets. In reply, Sri Lanka reached victory by losing 8 wickets.
Now, the defending champions and India are waiting for Sunday’s final. So far in this tournament, India lost one match, and that was against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Sri Lanka lost one match against India in the Super Four. It is expected that both teams will join the final with their best players, as there is no injury report.
Read more: Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India
Predicted XI for India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Predicted XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana.
India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final Head to Head
This is not the first time that India and Sri Lanka are meeting in the Asia Cup Final. Previously, they met 7 times in the final in 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2010. Among these seven appearances, India won four times in 1988, 1990-91, 1995, and 2010. Sri Lanka won three times in 1997, 2004 and 2008.
India vs Sri Lanka Overall ODI Head to Head
In ODI cricket, India and Sri Lanka have played against each other 166 times. Out of these 166 matches, India has won 97 times, while Sri Lanka has won 57 times. There were 11 matches that didn’t have a clear result, and 1 match ended in a tie.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Key Indian Players to Watch in Asia Cup Final 2023
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has been consistent throughout this Asia Cup and finally got his desired century against Bangladesh. He scored 121 runs from 133 balls in a critical situation for India. This week, Indian opener Shubman Gill has moved up two spots to reach the second position in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings for batters. He earned this recognition for his outstanding batting performance during the Asia Cup 2023. Shubman scored 275 runs in five innings with an impressive average of 68.75. This includes two half-centuries and one century in his name. So, India will greatly depend on his batting knock in the Final.
KL Rahul
Rahul made a comeback to the Indian team after being sidelined for almost three months due to multiple injuries. After his return, he scored a century in his first appearance in the Asia Cup against Pakistan in Super Four. After that, Rahul scored 39 runs against Sri Lanka and 19 runs against Bangladesh. It seems the long absence from the field did not hamper his performance, and he came back stronger. So, we may see a better performance this time against Sri Lanka.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep was the top bowler against Sri Lanka in the last match. He took four wickets with a 4.52 economy rate. Seemingly, his bowl worked better at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, as he also took five wickets at the same venue against Pakistan. Since the final will be at the same venue, we may see another brilliant performance from Kuldeep.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch in Asia Cup Final 2023
Kusal Mendis
Kusal has scored 253 runs from five innings in this Asia Cup and has two centuries and a half century. However, Kusal scored 15 runs against India in the Super Four round match. So, this time, Kusal should be looking to put his best in the final. Moreover, he is also incredible in wicketkeeping, as he took 8 catches.
Sadeera Samarwickrama
Sadeera Samarwickrama is currently the third highest run-scorer in the tournament, with a total of 215 runs in five innings. However, in the match against India, he only scored 17 runs. So, Sadeera is surely looking for a great knock in the final. Overall, Sadeera has played in 22 matches and has scored a total of 615 runs. His highest score is 93, which came against Bangladesh in this Asia Cup. He has an impressive strike rate of 90.57 in this tournament.
Matheesha Pathirana
This 20 year old wonder is the top wicket taker in this Asia Cup. So far, he took 11 wickets. He got at least one wicket in each match of the tournament except against India. In his appearance against India, Matheesha bowled 4 overs with a 7.75 econ rate, which resembles an average performance from him. He might be looking for a better performance in the final and remain the top wicket takers.
Read more: Bangladesh's probable squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
Final Words
India seems to have an advantage over Sri Lanka on paper because they have a stronger team with better players. However, India should not underestimate Sri Lanka as in the previous encounter in the Super Four stage of the tournament, India were very close to losing against the Lankans. While both teams are strong contenders, India still has a better chance to win the IND vs SL Asia Cup Final 2023.
Read more: Bangladesh beat India in Asia Cup after 11 years
Preview of India vs Bangladesh ODI in Asia Cup 2023
The 2023 Asia Cup is approaching the final, with the last match of the Super Four stage between India and Bangladesh. While India was dominant throughout the tournament, Bangladesh is eager to conclude their continental campaign with a big win. This highly anticipated IND vs BAN clash is set for this Friday, September 15, 2023, at 3:30 PM at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Preview of IND vs BAN ODI in Asia Cup 2023
Since this game won’t affect the trophy race, and the Indian team will have only one day of rest before the finals, it’s likely that the Indian team management will opt to rest some key players.
Shreyas Iyer, who was sidelined in India’s last two matches due to a back spasm, is anticipated to be fit for this upcoming game. Meanwhile, the experienced fast bowler Mohammad Shami may step in for Jasprit Bumrah to ensure Bumrah’s fitness for the crucial final match.
The head coach of the Tigers, Chandika Hathurusingha, had previously announced that there would be no team practice during a three-day break from September 10 to the 13. Two key Bangladeshi players, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim, have temporarily left the squad to attend to family matters in Dhaka. While Shakib will join the squad, Mushfiqur Rahim will be absent from the Asia Cup Super Four match against India on Friday. Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted him an extension of leave to be with his newborn child and family.
Read more: Banglabandhu Beach Volleyball begins in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday
Bangladesh’s performance in the Super Four stage has fallen short of the high expectations of their fans. Unfortunately, they have been eliminated from the tournament. The dreams of achieving their first continental championship have diminished for skipper Shakib Al Hassan’s team, especially after suffering losses in their first two Super Four matches.
Their big 89-run victory over Afghanistan in the group stage, which secured their place in the Super Four, stands as their sole triumph in this tournament. The Tigers are now hoping for a positive result in their final Super Four match before they prepare to host New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on September 21. In the other two Super Four matches, Sri Lanka won over Bangladesh by 21 runs, and Pakistan won by 7 wickets.
On the other hand, India is approaching their final Super Four match as the only team in the tournament that remains undefeated. The Men in Blue delivered an impressive 228-run victory over their arch-rivals, Pakistan, during the Super Four stage. They followed this up with a successful defense of 213 runs against Sri Lanka, which they won by 41 runs.
Despite not being able to complete a full 100-over game in the group stages, the seven-time Asian champions have now played on the R. Premadasa Stadium field for three consecutive days. They are now looking forward to a brief break before stepping onto the field against Bangladesh.
Read more: Mushfiqur Rahim to Miss Super Four Clash Against India
Predicted XIs for India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj.
Predicted XIs for Bangladesh
Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed.
IND vs BAN Head to Head ODI Matches So Far
Despite a strong effort from the Bangladesh team, India has consistently held the upper hand in this rivalry. The Men in Blue maintain a commanding lead in the head-to-head record, with an impressive 31 victories out of 39 encounters, while the Bangladesh Tigers have managed to secure victory only seven times thus far. One match had no result.
Read more: Wellalage’s all-round show in vain as India clinch low-scoring affair vs Sri Lanka
Key Indian Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma
The 36-year-old Indian captain is presently at the top of the run-scoring leaderboard, scoring 194 runs at an impressive average of 64.66. In his latest match against Sri Lanka, he reached the significant milestone of 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. Although he has scored half-centuries three times in this tournament, Rohit has not yet managed to score his first century. He will be eager to achieve this milestone in the remaining two innings before the tournament concludes.
Virat Kohli
In his remarkable innings against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, Kohli surpassed the milestone of 13,000 runs in ODI, becoming the fifth player in men’s ODIs to achieve this remarkable feat. However, he scored only three runs in the next match against Sri Lanka. But his excellent batting against Pakistan resembled his comeback. So, Kohli might repeat that performance against the Tigers.
KL Rahul
Indian batsman K.L. Rahul achieved a century during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Pakistan at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Monday. He returned to the Indian side after a nearly three-month absence due to multiple injuries and reached the century mark by hitting a double off Naseem Shah’s delivery. So, Rahul will be looking for another good score in the next match to make his position permanent in the team. Overall, KL Rahul played 56 matches for India and scored 2136 runs, which includes 6 centuries.
Read more: India clinch historic victory against Pakistan by a staggering 228-run margin
Key Bangladeshi Players to Watch
Taskin Ahmed
Bangladeshi captain will assign crucial responsibility to Taskin, aiming to stop the star-studded Indian top-order, which has been dominating pacers throughout this ongoing competition. Taskin Ahmed shares the distinction of being the highest wicket-taker in Asia Cup 2023, having taken nine wickets from four innings. The 28-year-old fast bowler played a pivotal role in their victory over Afghanistan, recording impressive bowling figures of 4 for 44 in 8.3 overs. He is expected to be a key factor in the success of the Bangladesh team.
Shakib Al Hasan
Captain Shakib Al Hasan is yet to give his best performance in this Asia Cup 2023. However, he played his role well as the captain. But overall, his batting and bowling performance has been dimmed recently. So, fans can expect one last performance before returning to home. So far, he scored 93 runs and grabbed 2 wickets in this Asia Cup.
Towhid Hridoy
Towhid failed to contribute to Bangladesh greatly in the first three matches of the Asia Cup 2023. In the first match, he scored 21 runs off 41 balls without any boundaries. In the next match against Afghanistan in Lahore, Bangladesh won by 89 runs, but he scored a zero. He also got out in a single-digit against Pakistan in the Super Four. However, Towhind knocked a brilliant batting performance in the last match against Sri Lanka, scoring 82 runs off 97 balls. So, we can expect another knock in the next match.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Final Words
Considering the match results so far in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 ODI tournament, it can be said that team India is favorite in the contest.
However, nothing is impossible in cricket. To secure their first Super Four stage victory, Bangladesh need to show outstanding performances in all sectors including batting, bowling and fielding.
Bangladesh team should follow team Sri Lanka’s strategy to give a good fight, as they are the only team in this Asia Cup who gave an excellent fight against India. But, considering the team India’s performance, they have full potential to win the IND vs BAN Super Four Round match.
Read more: Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India
Preview of IND vs SL ODI in Asia Cup 2023
India will face Sri Lanka in the fourth match of the Super Four Round on September 12, 2023, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The IND vs SL match will start at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time. India will join the match without a rest day as their previous match against Pakistan shifted to reserve day on September 11.
Preview of India vs Sri Lanka ODI Match in the 2023 Asia Cup
Rain has had a significant impact on the Asia Cup, particularly affecting the Indian cricket team. India had managed to complete only one full game, which was interrupted by rain when they faced Nepal. Their first match against Pakistan was abandoned entirely due to rain, although they did have the opportunity to bat. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India secured an impressive 10-wicket victory against Nepal in their second game. However, their highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Super Four match encountered multiple interruptions due to rain. And the match has shifted to reserve day.
On Monday, India resumed their innings at 147-2 in the 50-over game. This interruption came after rain abruptly halted their innings, following Pakistan's choice to bowl first in Colombo.
Read more: India clinch historic victory against Pakistan by a staggering 228-run margin
Virat Kohli, at eight runs, and KL Rahul, at 17 runs, were at the crease when the rain started, causing the players to leave the field. The ground staff made hardworking efforts to prepare the field for a potential restart after the showers stopped. Despite three inspections by the umpires signaled resuming the match, it was ultimately the rain that had the final say.
Captain Rohit Sharma, with a score of 56, and opening batsman Shubman Gill, who contributed 58 runs, provided India with an excellent start, establishing a challenging partnership of 121 runs from 100 balls, which already put Pakistan under pressure.
In contrast, Sri Lanka successfully completed their first Super Four match against Bangladesh with a win and is now filled with confidence as they prepare to face India. Sri Lanka lost the toss and went to bat first in their last Super Four match against Bangladesh. They scored 257 runs, losing 9 wickets. Bangladesh scored 236 runs from 48.1 overs. Hence, Sri Lanka won by 21 runs.
In the group stage, Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, among the three matches in this Asia Cup, Sri Lanka faced a tough time against Afghanistan. But they won the match by two runs. Despite being weaker than India, the three wins in the Asia Cup will surely give them enough confidence to give a good fight against India.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Probable Playing XI for India
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Probable Playing XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana.
IND Vs SL Head to Head ODI Matches So Far
In head-to-head encounters, India has a substantial advantage over Sri Lanka, with a lead of 39 more victories. In one-day internationals, India and Sri Lanka have met on 165 occasions. Out of these, India emerged victorious 96 times, while they suffered defeat in 57 matches. Additionally, 11 games concluded without a result, and one game ended in a tie.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Key Indian Players to Watch
Shubman Gill
This rising star in Team India has gained acclaim for his explosive batting skills. And he has proven himself whenever he gets a chance. In the last match against Pakistan, he scored 58 runs from 52 balls with a 111.54 strike rate. In addition to this performance, this year, Shubman Gill showcased his talent by scoring an impressive total of 885 runs in 15 matches, with a remarkable average of 68.07. Apparently, he is well-known for his ability to deliver match-winning performances.
Rohit Sharma
Although Rohit is having a bit of time in his career, his last performance against Pakistan was incredible. His 56 runs from 49 balls at 114.29 strike rate helped India to score a quick hundred. Rohit Sharma's ODI career is marked by an impressive record of 9,978 runs in 247 matches, which includes an extraordinary 30 centuries and three double centuries. In addition to his exceptional batting skills, he also contributes valuable leadership skills, with the aim of steering India towards championship success.
Jasprit Bumrah
India's bowling strength significantly depends on Jasprit Bumrah, who leads their pace attack and is widely recognized for his ability to give a breakthrough when needed. As he returns to the squad, India will surely be able to put some pressure on Lankan batters. Bumrah has an impressive track record, having taken 121 wickets in 72 innings, with his best bowling performance being 6/19. His unique skill of delivering crucial overs at the right moment in the innings makes him an invaluable asset for the Indian cricket team.
Read more: Novak Djokovic wins the US Open for his 24th Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev
Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha took 7 wickets in this Asia Cup in just three matches. So, he can definitely contribute in the next match. However, he couldn’t do well against the Afghans. Overall, Matheesha Pathirana played 7 ODI matches so far in his career and took 12 wickets. The young star has enough potential to give his best against India.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera has been doing well in this Asia Cup, as he scored 150 runs, with the highest score of 93 runs against Bangladesh in the last match. Overall, he played 20 ODIs for Sri Lanka and scored 550 runs. Although he has yet to score any century, Sadeera has a good strike rate of 92.12.
Maheesh Theekshana
Another young star, Maheesh Theekshana, is a valuable asset for Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023. He took six wickets in the last three matches. However, he got five wickets in his two appearances against Bangladesh in this Asia Cup. Overall, he has played 25 innings for Sri Lanka and got 42 wickets with 4/25 best bowling performance.
Final Words
After considering the head to head records and recent performance, India has a clean, competitive edge. Moreover, India whitewashed Sri Lanka in the last series in January 2023. So, if the weather remains okay, India has a great chance to win the IND vs SL Super Four Round game in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?
Preview of PAK vs IND ODI in Asia Cup 2023 (September 10)
Cricket fans are waiting for an electrifying showdown as Pakistan faces off against India in the third match of the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 3:30 PM Bangladesh time. The stage is set at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Both teams are riding high on their recent impressive victories and are eager to replicate their exceptional performances in the upcoming game.
Preview of Pakistan vs India ODI in Asia Cup 2023
This is the second game for Pakistan in the Super Four round and the first game for India. Previously, Pakistan faced Bangladesh in their first Super Four round match. Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 193 runs with more than 11 overs to spare at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan won by 7 wickets after crossing this run with 63 balls to spare. Imam ul Haque and Mohammad Rizwan scored fifty. Before the Super Four Match, Pakistan got a big win against Nepal in the group stage. Pakistan scored 342 runs from 6 wickets, whereas Nepal was all out for 104 runs in 23.4 overs.
India, on the other hand, smashed Nepal in the group-stage match. After batting first at Pallekele, Nepal was all out for 230 runs in 49 overs. After rain, India reached the target of 145 runs in 23 overs with 17 balls to spare on the DLS method.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023 Fixtures: Team List, Schedule, and Venues
There are no changes in the Pakistan squad, but the Indian Squad has two changes. After a four-month absence from the field, KL Rahul is set to rejoin India's ODI squad. While Ishan Kishan has been a dynamic force in recent matches, making the most of every opportunity, it's KL Rahul who has earned the trust of the selectors and the team management.
During a recent press conference, India's captain, Rohit Sharma, mentioned the prospect of having both Rahul and Kishan in the playing eleven, but it seems unlikely to materialize. The lead-up to the World Cup could become a head-to-head battle between Rahul and Kishan. The upcoming Sunday fixture against Pakistan may serve as Rahul's first opportunity to demonstrate his fitness and form.
Following his absence from the game against Nepal due to the birth of his first child, Bumrah has now reunited with the team for the Super Four round. He is set to make a comeback to the playing eleven alongside Rahul. However, it appears that there may not be a place for both Mohammed Shami and Kishan in the lineup.
Read more: Bangladesh's Fixtures for ICC World Cup 2023
Probable Playing XI for Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
Probable Playing XI for India
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
PAK Vs IND Head to Head ODI Matches So Far
India and Pakistan have a long-standing cricket rivalry that has produced some intense and memorable matches over the years. When it comes to their head-to-head ODI records, India has had the upper hand. Out of the 133 ODI matches played between the two teams, India has emerged victorious in 55 matches, while Pakistan has won 73 matches. Five matches had no result, including the last Asia Cup 2023 match. Pakistan’s dominance in the ODI format against India is evident, and their strong performances have contributed to their success in this rivalry.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Pakistani Key Players to Watch
Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman, one of the team's opening batsmen, possesses the potential to be a game-changer if he hits his pace. Zaman has a strong track record against India and has been in impressive form of late. In 2023, he scored 613 runs from 14 matches with a 51.08 average, displaying his consistency, and his strike rate stands at approximately 88.84, indicating his aggressive and fast-paced style of play.
Babar Azam
Although Pakistan couldn’t bat against India in the last match, Babar Azam showed his aggressiveness against Nepal. He scored 151 runs from 131 balls, which made him one of the top scorers in this tournament. So, the captain himself will certainly be eager to give his best against the ultimate rivalry.
Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi has the potential to be the standout bowler for his team in the forthcoming game against India. Having already secured seven wickets in three matches during the Asia Cup 2023, he ranks among the top wicket-takers. Afridi will surely be eager to maintain his impressive form when facing India.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Indian Key Players to Watch
Virat Kohli
Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli has the potential to emerge as the standout performer for his team in the upcoming match against Pakistan. Kohli had a disappointing outing in the third group stage match against Pakistan and didn't have an opportunity to showcase his batting skills against Nepal. Therefore, if he gets a chance to bat against their arch-rivals, Kohli could become a crucial force for India. He has been in excellent form this year scoring a total of 431 runs in 12 ODIs.
Shubman Gill
Team India's rising star has garnered recognition for his explosive batting abilities. He made his debut in India's fourth ODI match of the series against New Zealand on January 31, 2019. In 2023, Shubman Gill displayed his prowess by scoring a remarkable 827 runs in 14 matches, boasting an incredible average of 68.91. This right-handed top-order batsman is renowned for his composure and his knack for delivering match-winning performances.
Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Siraj, India's rising fast-bowling talent, has showcased his exceptional skills on the cricket field. Born in 1994, this right-arm speedster made his ODI debut against Australia in January 2019. In the ODIs, Mohammad Siraj has impressively secured 46 wickets in just 26 matches, all while maintaining an outstanding economy rate of 4.86.
Read more: Bangladesh concede second defeat to Sri Lanka in Asia Cup
Final Words
The matches between these two cricketing giants are always highly anticipated and fiercely contested, making it one of the most exciting rivalries in the world of cricket. With number one ranking in ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, Pakistan is having the best time. On the other hand, India is also getting the pace. But compared to Pakistan, India is lagging behind. Indian top order will surely face problems getting fast scores against the Pakistani speed starts such as Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
There is no doubt that the PAK vs IND ODI match in Asia Cup 2023 will be highly competitive, but Pakistan has a great chance to emerge as the winner. However, there is a high chance of rain during the match, and a reserve day has been appointed if the match gets washed out.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming Asia Cup 2023: Where and How to watch live streaming, Probable Playing 11
Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, September 9. Sri Lanka topped Group B with four points, while Bangladesh finished second with two points after upsetting Afghanistan in the final group stage game on Tuesday.
Bangladesh have already played 1 game in the Super 4 round and they tasted defeat in that game. Shakib Al Hasan and co. suffered a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan on 6th September 2023.
Head-to-Head Records
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have faced each other in 52 ODI matches. Out of these 52 games, Sri Lanka have won 41, whereas Bangladesh have come out victorious on nine occasions. Two matches had no results.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Six Players in Bangladesh ODI Squad to Watch
Where and How to watch Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka livestream Asia Cup 2023 for free
Here is the list of live streaming and broadcasting details in other countries:
Pakistan: PTV Sports and Ten Sports
Bangladesh: Gazi TV, T- Sports and Star Sports-1
United Kingdom: TNT Sports app
Australia: Fox Sports and FOXTel app
South Africa: SuperSport
SRI vs BAN live streaming will take place on Disney+ Hotstar for free in India.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?
Asia Cup Cricket will be telecast live on Toffee
Toffee, the digital entertainment platform of Banglalink, has acquired the rights to live stream the Asia Cup 2023.
Where can watch the live stream of BAN vs SL Asia Cup 2023 match in USA?
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2023 match will be streamed live on Willow TV. Live streaming will also be available on ESPN+ and Disney Bundle.
Read more: Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ODI in Asia Cup 2023
How to watch Asia Cup 2023 online for free?
Viewers can witness the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match online for free on the Hotstar App mobile version.
When will the BAN vs SL, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s match take place?
The Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take place on Saturday, September 9 from 3:00 PM IST onwards.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Where will the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s match take place?
The Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Probable Playing 11
Sri Lanka Playing XI
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha/Matheesha Pathirana
Bangladesh Playing XI
Litton Das, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan
When the two sides had met in the group-stage round in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lanka had emerged out victorious in the game.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
BCB president unaware of Litton Das' Asia Cup inclusion
In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh opener Litton Das is reportedly set to join the Asia Cup squad, according to sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
However, BCB President Nazmul Hasan has expressed his apparent lack of knowledge regarding Litton's inclusion in the Asia Cup roster.
Read : Bangladesh’s placement in Asia Cup Super Four confirmed?
During a media interaction on Monday, Nazmul responded, "Is he joining the Asia Cup? I've no idea. I've talked to the captain, coach, and selectors, but nobody told me!"
A source within the BCB has confirmed that Litton Das is scheduled to board a flight at 9:30 pm, with his destination being Lahore via Dubai, where Bangladesh is slated to compete in their first Super Four match.
Read : Asia Cup: Tigers crush Afghanistan to book Super 4 slot
Initially, Litton was meant to travel with the team to Sri Lanka. However, a bout of fever raised doubts about his availability for the Asia Cup, prompting the BCB to make arrangements for a replacement.
Subsequently, Litton's recovery from the illness has paved the way for his potential inclusion in the squad.
Read : Preview of Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI in Asia Cup 2023
Bangladesh's campaign in the Asia Cup began with a defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, they made a strong comeback in their second match, defeating Afghanistan by a convincing margin of 89 runs, thereby securing their spot in the Super Four stage.
Bangladesh’s placement in Asia Cup Super Four confirmed?
While the math may not yet guarantee Bangladesh's spot in the Asia Cup Super Four, a closer look at the current group standings and net run-rate suggests that Bangladesh has positioned themselves favorably for the Super Four.
Bangladesh is placed in Group B of the Asia Cup, alongside Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. As of today, Bangladesh has played two matches, accumulating two points with one win and one defeat.
Read: Asia Cup: Tigers crush Afghanistan to book Super 4 slot
In contrast, both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have played just one match each. Sri Lanka clinched victory in their encounter with Bangladesh, while Afghanistan faced defeat in their sole match against Bangladesh.
The pivotal match in this group is the upcoming clash between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Should Afghanistan emerge victorious in this encounter, every team in Group B would stand with an equal two points each. In this scenario, the teams that secure a berth in the Super Four will be determined by their respective net run rates.
At present, Sri Lanka boasts a run rate of +0.951, Bangladesh follows with +0.373, and Afghanistan lags behind with a run rate of -1.780. This implies that a mere win against Sri Lanka won't secure Afghanistan a place in the Super Four; they will need a significant victory that can outshine Bangladesh's run rate.
Read: Mehidy, Shanto smash centuries putting Afghans to the sword
The pressing question then becomes: By what margin must Afghanistan defeat Sri Lanka to ensure their place in the Super Four?
The answer to this query hinges on various factors, including the number of runs they score and the number of overs they utilize, of course, along with a win over Sri Lanka.
Read: Bangladesh faces do-or-die battle against Afghanistan
However, should Sri Lanka emerge victorious in the final group match, both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will secure their passage to the Super Four, while Afghanistan's journey in Asia Cup 2023 will come to an end.
Preview of Bangladesh vs Afghanistan ODI in Asia Cup 2023
Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in their second 2023 Asia Cup match, which is a do-or-die situation. The match will take place at Gaddafi Stadium on September 3 at 3:30 PM (Bangladesh time).
Bangladesh’s hopes of going to the Super Four of the Asia Cup faded after losing against Sri Lanka in the first match. Although on paper, Bangladesh still have a chance to go to the next round, the match against Afghanistan is highly important, and Bangladesh needs a big win.
Asia Cup 2023: BAN vs AFG Match Preview
Bangladesh’s Performance against Sri Lanka in the ongoing Asia Cup
Before the match even started against Sri Lanka on August 31, Bangladesh were worried about their opening pair. Their worry turned out to be true because Tanzid Tamim and Naim Sheikh didn’t do well at the beginning of the game. After the bad start, Bangladesh couldn’t make things better. The only player who did well was Najmul Hossain Shanto. He scored 89 runs in the game, and that’s how Bangladesh managed to get more than 150 runs.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Six Players in Bangladesh ODI Squad to Watch
However, the bowlers have struggled enough with this low score. After the speed and swing of Taskin Ahmed with the new ball, the Lankan batsmen had to give a tough test to the Shakib-Mehdi spin in the middle overs. However, Bangladesh’s 164 runs were not enough to hold them back in 50 overs.
Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat in Pallekele on August 31 (Thursday). Bangladesh could not score more than 164 runs after losing all wickets in 42 overs. In response, Sri Lanka attained victory by losing 5 wickets in 39 overs. At this rate, the equation of survival in the tournament has become very difficult for Bangladesh. Now, to get a place in the Super Four, Bangladesh will have to match the difficult equation.
Significance of the BAN vs AFG Match in the 2023 Asia Cup
There is no alternative to victory against Afghanistan in the do or die battle at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 3. A win will keep the hopes of the Super Four alive while looking forward to the second and final match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. But if Bangladesh loses against the Afghans, the Tigers’ farewell will be confirmed.
Read more: Prospects of Bangladesh in 2023 Asia Cup ODI Tournament
Can Afghanistan Win the Match Against Bangladesh?
Afghanistan will begin their Asia Cup by playing against Bangladesh. In the past, Afghanistan’s cricket team did really well in the Asian Cup and played in the Super Four in the last two ODI editions in 2014 and 2018. But they couldn’t make it to the finals.
Before starting the Asia Cup 2023, the Afghans went to Sri Lanka to play against their closest neighbour, Pakistan, in a three-match ODI series that took place from August 22, 2023, to August 26, 2023. Sadly, they lost all three games in a row. But, before that, the Afghans won against Bangladesh by 2-1 in a three-match ODI series in Bangladesh that happened from July 5, 2023, to July 11, 2023. Hence, Afghanistan will be confident against the Tigers.
Two important bowlers, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fareed Ahmed Malik, won’t be playing; the Afghan bowling team will depend a lot on 22-year-old Fazalhaq Farooqi. They will be looking to him to do well. Further, the Afghan team will also look forward to Karim Janat. He’s been asked to play for the national team again, and he’s excited to be back in ODI cricket after not playing it for six years.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Analysis of Bangladesh ODI Squad
Another player, Rahmat Shah, might also get to play in the Afghan team. He was not in the team for the last two games against Pakistan, but he might be in the lineup this time.
Bangladesh’s Probable XIs
Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Afghanistan’s Probable XIs
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmat Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023 Fixtures: Team List, Schedule, and Venues
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record
Afghanistan got their ICC Associate member status in 2013 and debuted in the Asia Cup the very next year. Afghanistan’s team, led by Mohammad Nabi, won their first match in Asia Cup 2014 against Bangladesh. Although the Afghans won the first Asia Cup match against the Tigers in 2014, Bangladesh currently leads the overall ICC ODI head-to-head record by 8-6.
These two cricket teams, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have played against each other three times in the Asia Cup ODI version. They played one match in the 2014 Asia Cup and 2 matches in the 2018 Asia Cup. In the previous ODI edition of the Asia Cup in 2018, Afghanistan won against Bangladesh by a big margin of 136 runs in the group stage of the tournament. But in the same tournament, Bangladesh came back strong and beat Afghanistan in the Super Four.
Bangladeshi Players to Watch
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Even though Bangladesh lost their first game in the tournament, Najmul Hossain Shanto did really well with his batting. He came to bat as the third player in his team and scored 89 runs from 122 balls. That means he played a big part in helping his team reach a total of 164 runs. He started batting very early in the game, in the second over, and didn’t get out until he helped his team get a good score.
Read more: Bangladesh suffer thumping defeat in Asia Cup Vs. S Lanka
Shakib Al Hasan
Although Shakib could not do well with the bat in the first match against Sri Lanka, he tried his best with the ball and took 2 wickets at a 2.9 econ rate. Shakib has good records with Afghanistan, taking 27 wickets from 13 matches with 5/29 best bowling score. Shakib scored 367 runs in those 13 matches. So, he can play a significant role with the ball and bat against the Afghans.
Afghan Players to Watch
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz, who is only 21 years old, has become the best and most dependable player in the Afghanistan batting lineup. He has been doing really well in ODIs. In the last series against Pakistan, he scored the most runs for the team, getting 178 runs in three innings with an average of 58 runs per game. Now, it’s up to him, as one of the best players from his team, to face the strong bowling side from Bangladesh and help Afghanistan start their innings well.
Read more: Shaheen Dismisses Rohit and Virat Early as India Bat First in Asia Cup Clash vs Pakistan
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Left-arm fast-medium Fazalhaq Farooqi can be a great asset for Afghanistan. We have seen his performance in the recently ended series in August 2023 against Pakistan. He took 5 wickets in three matches. Farooqi also has a good record against Bangladesh and took 14 wickets from 6 appearances with a 4/54 best-blowing record. So, he might put pressure on Bangladeshi top orders.
Final Words
The upcoming Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is expected to be acutely competitive. Both teams play in a similar style and are equally strong. But Afghanistan have an advantage because they won a series against Bangladesh in July 2023. Afghanistan will surely focus on Bangladesh’s main weakness, which is their weak batting lineup, to win this game. So, Afghanistan have a great chance to win the match and send Bangladesh out of the Asia Cup.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?