The Kabul Tribune (KT — Afghanistan and Bangladesh meet Thursday in the first Twenty20 international of their three-match series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with both sides seeking to build momentum after mixed results in the Asia Cup.
Afghanistan, ranked 10th in the ICC Men’s T20I standings
with 221 rating points, failed to progress beyond the group stage at the Asia
Cup. Captain Rashid Khan is expected to lean on his side’s spin strength, with
Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman key options alongside himself. Batter Ibrahim
Zadran, who struggled for form during the Asia Cup, is another player
Afghanistan will look to for stability at the top.
Bangladesh enter the contest ranked ninth, one place above
Afghanistan, with 222 rating points. They reached the Super 4 stage of the Asia
Cup before losing to Pakistan. Despite the absence of regular captain Litton
Das, Bangladesh arrive as slight favorites with Jaker Ali leading the squad.
Spinner Rishad Hossain and batter Saif Hassan are seen as central figures after
strong recent performances.
The Bangladesh squad includes Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur
Rahman and Soumya Sarkar, while Afghanistan’s lineup features veterans Mohammad
Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Both teams view the Sharjah series as an important tune-up
ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
