Asia Cup Cricket 2022
Bangladesh VS Afghanistan Played at Sheikh Jayed Stadium, Sarah, UAE
Afghanistan 131/3 (Ibrahim Zadran 42*, Nazibullah Zadran 43* )
Bangladesh 127/7 (Mosaddeq Hossain 48*, Mahmudullah Riad 26, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3/16 , Rashid Khan 3/22)
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
Red hot Afghans moved into the business round of Asia Cup 2022 as the first team inflicting a comprehensive 7-wicket defeat on pathetic spineless Bangladesh.
In a two-horse battle there will be a winner and a loser. But the manner in which Bangladesh lost beggars description. The manners in which Bangladeshi batsmen approached their innings after opting to bat was deplorable. Two openers batted like raw novice, Shakib gifted away his wicket. Mushfique was fooled by Rashid. Mosaddeq and Mahmuddullah tried resurrecting.
But that was too little too less. 127/7 in modern T20 match of two full member teams in an ICC engagement cannot be considered competitive. Afghanistan stuttered at bit in the chase. At 3/62 there appeared some possibilities for match going down to the wires. But two Zadrans –Ibrahim 42* and Nazibullah 43* secured the match without any further hiccup. Winning two matches back-to-back Nabi squad walked into the business round.
In the group of death Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will appear in a do or die match tomorrow. The present state of Bangladesh team cannot give confidence to Bangladeshi followers that it can win easy against Sri Lanka.
Going back to the match one fails to understand why Shakib exposed his suspect openers to quality Afghan pace attack without assessing the condition of the wicket. For countering accurate pace attack of Fazal Haq Farooki and Naveen Ul Haq Bijoy and Naim should have rotated the strike playing straight instead of trying to blast the attack. Bijoy and Naim got out like novice Mystery bowler Mujeeb struck early blows. Shakib tried to counter attack.
But the stroke that brought his down fall was one stroke too many. Mushfique failed to read wrong un of Rashid. Afghans sucked out the cream of Bangladesh batting too early pushing them back to the wall. Desperate late order rally by Mosaddeq and Mahmudullah facilitated Bangladesh closing the innings at face saving 127/7.
Afghans lost their two flamboyant openers Zazai and Gurbaz before they inflicted much damage. Bowlers had reasonable control for a while. But Ibrahim Zadaran and Nazibullah Zadran producing matured partnership led Afghanistan cruised across victory target. The win carried Afghanistan merrily to the business round. Bangladesh must win against Sri Lanka to move. In current form it will be an up hill task for Bangladesh.
The recent performance by Bangladesh in all formats evidences incompetence of BCB in steering Bangladesh out of the present deep hole. People are getting increasingly frustrated about the talk shops of BCB top management.
BDST: 1530 HRS, AUG 31, 2022
SMS
