ZCZC
BSP-19
CRICKET-BD-AFGHAN-PREVIEW
Bangladesh face Afghanistan in crucial super four match tomorrow
DHAKA, Sept 22, 2018 (BSS)- It will be an acid test for Bangladesh as they face
Afghanistan in their super four match of the ACC Asia Cup scheduled to be held
tomorrow (Sunday) at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The match kicks off at 5.30 pm (BST).
After losing their respective first matches in this round, it goes without
saying that both Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be desperate looking to stay alive
in this tournament.
The Tigers have already lost a game against Afghanistan, although two of their
most important players – Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman – did not feature in
that group-match.
Despite their poor result against Afghanistan in limited-overs cricket in recent
past, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza is hopeful of mounting a comeback against
the emerging force of world cricket.
The absence of opener Tamim Iqbal has unsettled the Tigers’ top order. The lack
of form of the younger batsmen such as Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and
Mosaddek Hossain has led the selectors to add Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes to the
squad.
Whether this will relieve the pressure on the three main batsmen – Mushfiqur
Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah – remains to be seen.
Both teams are in the same situation, effectively, as far as the tournament
goes, but at the moment Afghanistan look clear favourites, their spinners itching
to go at an under-pressure batting line-up that has failed to cross 200 in
successive games.
Though the Tigers have the ability to turn around in such pressure situations and
fit into the equation, and they have shown it in the past during the ICC Champions
Trophy in 2017 and the Nidahas Trophy this year.
Afghanistan have played impressive cricket in the Asia Cup so far, although the
loss to Pakistan will take time to heal. They will hope for a better start from
Mohammad Shahzad and Ihsanullah in the first Powerplay.
Their middle order has mostly done the job of steadying the ship and setting a
platform for the last 10 overs, in which Afghanistan have now scored 97 and 87 runs
in their last two matches, against Bangladesh and Pakistan. Hashmatullah Shahidi
has been their batting ace, scoring 192 runs in three innings, but none of the
others have been as consistent. Rahmat Shah made 72 against Sri Lanka while Asghar
Afghan struck 67 against Pakistan.
Their three main spinners, however, have been outstanding, none of them
conceding more than 3.50 runs per over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s accuracy and variation with the new ball is backed up by the
experienced Mohammad Nabi before their star bowler, the leg spinner Rashid Khan,
rips into the middle orders.
Perhaps at times captain Afghan can bring Rashid into the attack slightly
earlier, especially if teams get off to good starts.
Squads:
Bangladesh (probable): Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan,
Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket keeper), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain,
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur
Rahman.
Afghanistan (probable): Mohammad Shahzad (wickt keeper), Ihsanullah, Rahmat
Shah, Asghar Afghan (captain), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah
Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
BSS/SG/AU/16:55 hrs