The 1st T20 match of Afghanistan tour of Bangladesh, 2023 is scheduled to be held on Friday, 14th July 2023 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet.

Afghanistan Emerges Victorious in ODI Series, Prepares to Challenge Bangladesh in T20 Matches

After clinching a 2-1 victory in the ODI series against the home side, Afghanistan is now geared up to compete in two thrilling T20 matches. Renowned for their prowess in the T20 format, Afghanistan is expected to pose a formidable challenge to Bangladesh, who struggled to deliver their best performance on home soil. With their defeat in the ODI series, Bangladesh will likely come into these matches with renewed determination, seeking to alleviate the pressure from their previous loss.

Bangladesh Faces Disappointment in ODI Series, Looks to Shakib Al-Hasan for T20 Redemption

Despite winning the third ODI match convincingly, Bangladesh’s performance in the ODI series left their fans, especially the home crowd, disappointed. Leading the T20 side, Shakib Al-Hasan, the top-ranked all-rounder in the ICC rankings, carries the weight of expectations. With a strong record in home conditions, Shakib’s role will be pivotal in this two-match series.

However, Bangladesh will feel the absence of key players Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal, who have been vital pillars of their T20 team. Their exclusion from the squad leaves a void in the batting firepower. Rony Talukdar and Liton Das are expected to open the innings for Bangladesh, while the middle and lower order will rely on talented batsmen like Afif Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Despite the absence of Rahim and Iqbal, Bangladesh possesses depth in their batting lineup.

In the bowling department, Bangladesh boasts a strong unit. Taskin Ahmed will lead the attack alongside Ebadot Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. With a well-rounded bowling lineup, Bangladesh aims to capitalize on their bowling strength.

As Bangladesh strives to bounce back in the T20 series, all eyes will be on Shakib Al-Hasan and the rest of the team to deliver a strong performance and regain the support of their disappointed fans.

Afghanistan Rebounds Strongly to Win ODI Series, Eyes T20 Success

Following a record-breaking loss in the test match against Bangladesh, Afghanistan showcased a resilient comeback, securing convincing victories in the first two ODI matches and ultimately clinching the ODI series. While their performance in the third ODI was not as impressive, it is undeniable that Afghanistan is a formidable T20 team.

Afghanistan boasts a lineup of power hitters such as Hazratullah Zazai and exceptional spin bowlers Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan, the newly appointed leader of the T20 team, adds further strength to their roster.

In a strategic move, Afghanistan made changes to their batting squad, omitting Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran from the opening positions. Sediqullah Atal joins the squad, along with Najibullah Zadran and Hazratullah Zazai. Karim Janat, a versatile all-rounder and skilled spin bowler, returns to the team after a hiatus. With the support of Mohammad Nabi, Nijat Masood, and Azmatullah Omarzai, Janat possesses the ability to disrupt Bangladesh’s batting order. Spin bowling remains Afghanistan’s key strength. While Fazalhaq Farooqi’s participation in the match is uncertain, Wafadar Mohmand is available as a potential replacement. Fareed Malik completes Afghanistan’s bowling lineup.

With their focus now shifting to the T20 format, Afghanistan aims to carry their winning momentum forward. The team’s formidable batting and spin-bowling prowess make them a strong contender, setting the stage for an exciting series against Bangladesh.

In the realm of T20 cricket, Bangladesh has participated in a total of 150 matches to date. Out of these, they have emerged victorious in 54 encounters, while their opponents have triumphed in 93 matches. Additionally, there have been three instances where matches featuring Bangladesh concluded without a definitive result.

In the realm of T20 cricket, Afghanistan has participated in a total of 113 matches thus far. Out of these, they have emerged victorious in 72 encounters, while their opponents have secured victory in 41 matches.

In their head-to-head encounters, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced each other in 9 T20 matches. Out of these, Bangladesh emerged victorious in 3 matches, while Afghanistan claimed victory in 6 matches.

Based on our match prediction, Afghanistan holds the favored position to win this match against Bangladesh. Several key factors contribute to Afghanistan’s status as the favorite team:

• Afghanistan’s recent victory in the ODI series against Bangladesh adds to their momentum.
• Afghanistan possesses a formidable batting lineup that is currently in good form.
• Afghanistan has a track record of winning the majority of matches played against Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh has yet to secure a victory in any T20 match held in Sylhet.
• The main bowlers from both teams have been performing well throughout this series.

Considering these factors, Afghanistan is expected to have the upper hand in the upcoming match.

With a strong batting order and a formidable bowling unit, Afghanistan holds an advantage over Bangladesh in today’s match, increasing their chances of winning. The winning probabilities for both teams are as follows:

Afghanistan: 54% chance of winning this match
Bangladesh: 46% chance of winning this match

The outcome of the toss will carry significant weight in determining the course of each match in this series. As per our toss prediction, the team that wins the toss is likely to choose to bat first.

The first T20 match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. The pitch at this venue is known for its excellent batting conditions. The relatively shorter boundaries will come into play and provide an opportunity for spinners to make an impact. The pitch is expected to remain favorable for batting throughout the match. Chasing a target of 290 runs could prove to be challenging for the team batting second.

The weather forecast for the match day in Sylhet is unfavorable for cricket, with chances of rain. There is a possibility of interruptions in the match due to inclement weather conditions.

Bangladesh Playing: Litton Das (c), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.

Afghanistan Playing: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Saleem Safi.

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan
Vice-Captain: Rashid Khan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Karim Janat, Mujee ur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed

• Date: Thursday, 14th March 2023
• Time: 12:00 PM GMT / 06:00 PM LOCAL / 05:30 PM IST

• Stadium: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
• Location: Sylhet, Bangladesh
• Time Zone: UTC +06:00

• Total matches: 46
• Matches won batting first: 28
• Matches won bowling first: 18
• Average 1st Inns scores: 129
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 102
• Highest total recorded: 210/4 (20 Ov) by SL vs BAN
• Lowest total recorded: 33/10 (9.5 Ov) by MLYW vs SLW
• The highest score chased: 193/4 (13.5 Ov) by NED vs IRE
• Lowest score defended: 83/5 (18.1 Ov) by SLW vs BANW

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Litton Das(w), Rony Talukdar, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain.