All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be the X factor when the depleted and underperforming Bangladesh team meets red-hot Afghanistan at Dubai desert.
Afghanistan swept away helpless Sri Lankans in the inaugural match of ICC T20 world cup 2022. Bangladesh languishing at the bottom of points table in T20 format has to do something extraordinary to contain and overcome Afghanistan challenge.
Shakib one of the top all-rounder of all formats will have to perform at his best for turning the tide.
Afghans have at least 5-world class T20 performers who rock franchise cricket all over the cricket world including Bangladesh. The present Afghan team possesses two young quality pacers Fazal Haq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq. Bangladesh top order has to contain the initial blast of two young pacers for a competitive score.
If Bangladesh loses some quick wickets at the top, mid-order will struggle against three world-class Afghan spinners. As such much will depend on Bijoy, Shakib, Mushfique and Afiff. Bangladesh must score at least 160 -170 for making a match of it. In Mustafiz, Taskin, Ebadat, Shakib and Meraj Bangladesh has a quality bowling attack for defending any score around 160.
Afghanistan has two quality flamboyant opening batsmen -Hafizullah Zazai and Rahmatullah Gurbaz. Bangladesh must aim to get rid of them cheaply with the diverse bowling resource. Afghanistan does not have too many quality batsmen. Zadran in the top order and Mohammad Nabi in the middle order can consolidate Afghan innings if the top order gives them a solid platform. I was really impressed at the highly skilled and committed fielding. Bangladesh must try and match the ground fielding and take all their catches.
It may appear a highly challenging task for team Bangladesh. Many have started thinking that Afghanistan will have a run away victory. But we think that it will be a high voltage competitive encounter.
Afghanistan (probable): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, 6 Mohammad Nabi (capt), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Bangladesh (probable): Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan (Capt), Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
BDST:1800 HRS, AUG 30, 2022
SMS
