CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2023 Asia Cup Limited Overs Cricket Tournament Group ‘B’ match against Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday.
Bangladesh are faced with a must-win situation in an attempt to qualify for the Super Fours segment having already suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
In contrast, Afghanistan are coming out for the first time in the Asia Cup Tournament and will be determined to make an impact in their debut match on Pakistan soil.
They suffered a 0-3 whitewash against Pakistan in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series held in Sri Lanka recently but will be confident following their 2-1 ODI series win against Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Skipper Shakib Al Hasan said that they have made three changes to the side and decided to bat first considering the searing heat and the nature of the wicket as they wanted to put up a good total.
Afghanistan Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi also said that they would have batted first as well and hoped that their recent ODI series against Pakistan and held in Sri Lanka will hold them in good stead.
According to the pitch report it’s a good batting wicket, and the game should turn out to be a high-scoring affair. As for the bowlers, the cracks should open under the sun so that the spinners could get some assistance as the game wears on. There could be something for the seamers as well.
The teams
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam.
Umpires: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan) and Langton Rusere (Zimbabwe).
Television Umpire: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand).
Reserve Umpire: Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh).
Match Referee: David Boon (Australia).
