The three-match Afghanistan vs Bangladesh T20I series begins on October 2, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This three-match series promises an intense battle between two evenly matched teams, both eager to bounce back after underwhelming campaigns in the Asia Cup. With the slow and spin-friendly conditions in Sharjah, strategy and discipline are expected to play a decisive role.

Afghanistan banking on spin strength

Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, enter the series determined to prove their T20 credentials after a disappointing Asia Cup exit in the group stage. While their batting lacked consistency, the bowling unit remains their biggest weapon. Rashid, alongside fellow spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, will look to exploit the conditions perfectly tailored for spin. The team’s challenge lies in building a stable batting performance to support their bowlers.

Bangladesh eye fresh start under Jaker Ali

Bangladesh also faced heartbreak in the Asia Cup, failing to reach the final after a narrow defeat to Pakistan. With regular captain Litton Das sidelined, Jaker Ali will lead the side in this series. The Tigers’ batting lineup, featuring the likes of Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, showed promise during the Asia Cup and will aim to carry that form into Sharjah. Their bowlers, especially the spinners, are expected to thrive in helpful conditions.

AFG vs BAN, 1st T20I: Match Details

• Date and Time: October 2, 8:30 pm IST / 03:00 pm GMT / 07:00 pm local
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

AFG vs BAN, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 13 | Bangladesh won: 6 | Afghanistan won: 7 | No results: 0

Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium is known for being slow and offering variable bounce, which often makes stroke-making a challenge. Unlike batting-friendly tracks, this surface demands calculated play, as timing big shots is not always straightforward. While the ground has short boundaries that generally encourage aggressive play, the sluggish nature of the wicket levels the contest, requiring batters to rely on placement and patience rather than pure power. Bowlers, particularly spinners and those with clever variations, tend to thrive as the match progresses, making them key factors in controlling the scoring rate. Seamers who use slower deliveries and yorkers can also find success at the death.

Overall, the conditions in Sharjah are expected to create a balanced contest where disciplined batting and smart bowling strategies will determine the outcome.

Squads

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Ishaq, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Bashir Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (c & wk), Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed

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AFG vs BAN, Today’s match prediction

Case 1:

• Afghanistan wins the toss and bowls first
• Bangladesh powerplay score: 40-50
• Bangladesh overall score: 160-170

Case 2:

• Bangladesh wins the toss and bowls first
• Afghanistan powerplay score: 45-55
• Afghanistan overall score: 150-160

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.

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