A very strong Afghanistan team would take on Bangladesh at their impregnable venue Sher-e Bangladesh National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) for a 2 matches important T20 series. It would a keen contest as both are direct qualifiers in the ICC T20 world cup 2022. 

Afghanistan having some top quality proven world-class T20 performers is a very difficult T20 unit. Bangladesh at SBNCS in the recent past won series against Australia and New Zealand. Off course it did not perform at all well in ICC T20 World Cup 201 held in UAE. Circumstances alter cases. Tiger fans would expect a turn around specially as most of the Bangladeshi players displayed form in the recently concluded BPL 2022. Following are the Squads. 

Bangladesh Squad: Mahmud Ullah (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Munim Shahriar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Sheik Mahedi Hasan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Md Naim Sheikh

Afghanistan Squad: Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmatullah Gurbaz, Nazibullah Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Afsar Zazai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nijat Masood, Qais Ahmed and Sharfuddin Ashraf. 

Top Afghan players are sought after in different T20 franchise world over. Rashid and Mujeeb appear as tormenters.  Some Afghan youngsters are also coming up. Afghanistan does not have required domestic infrastructure. They have no opportunity for playing international cricket at home. Indian government has provided them facilities for practicing in India. They have sponsors and fan base in UAE as well. 

Bangladesh on the other hand is playing T20 Cricket for a while. BPL attracts international players. Some Afghans appear regularly. One cannot compare BPL with IPL, PSL or Big Bash. Yet this is a window for Bangladeshi youngsters for rubbing shoulders with quality international players. But apart from few successes infrequently Bangladesh performance in T20I is pretty ordinary.
 
ICC T20 Ranking

Afghanistan does not get opportunities for playing much against opposition too often for obvious reasons. But there is no semblance of doubt that they are one of the best emerging power in world cricket specially in the shortest format. ICC ranking at least for the next ICC world cup would not matter as both have already qualified for playing straight into main round. But both would definitely want to improve ranking. 

Apart from inclusion of Mohammad Naim other 13 named in Bangladesh squad are automatic choice. We are unsure a little bit about match fitness of Taskin. He will play ODI series starting tomorrow. Hope he is OK. 

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal announced his unwillingness for playing T20 for a period of six months. Bangladesh has to desperately look for opening combination. Naim has repeatedly failed in recent opportunities. He is young and has a future ahead of him. IN BPL 2022 few others including Munim Shahriar performed. Munim Shahriar deservedly won his inclusion for his fearless batting. Unfortunately Soumya failed to impress. Yet for his greater experience he could be included. Other choice could be giving a fresh look at Anamul Haq. One must have seen Bangladesh named 14 players. We think from the form of players in ODI series a 15th member may be added. Can not also rule out Tamim Changing his mind. Would have liked to see Mrittunjoy included in the T20 squad as well. 

In absence of Tamim possibly Liton would open the innings with Munim Shahriar. Shakib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah would follow at 3,4 and 5. Afif and Rabbi can bat at 6 and 7. Mehedy /Nasum and three pacers would follow. 

SBNCS wicket recently has shown improvement from its ill reputation. If it stays same as before Afghans having better quality spinners would rock Bangladesh. Off course Shakib, Nasum and Mahedy would also thrive. Anyway let us see whether Mustafiz, Shakib and the rest under Mahmudullah can bring joy for tigers or not. But Afghans would be a hard nut to crack. 

BDST: 1427 HRS, FEB 22, 2022
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