Afghanistan Tour of Bangladesh

Only Test: BAN vs AFG

Preview

The two Asian sides will clash with each other when Bangladesh will host Afghanistan in the longest format of the game in a One-off Test match at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, starting from Wednesday (June 14) at 09:00 AM IST. The Hosts won the last game they played at home against the Irish side, and Bangla Tigers will look to draw confidence from that win. It will be the first Test Match for Afghans in more than two years, and they will look to win this one.  

BAN and AFG have played once earlier, where AFG defeated BAN in the red-ball format. That was a different team, and the Afghans will miss some of their best players who have been rested for this tour where they will play six matches in the white ball format as well. The ninth-placed test side BAN has done well at home in recent months, and AFG will take a special effort to defeat them in this game.

The 28-year-old right-handed batter Litton Das will lead the side in this game in the absence of Shakib al Hasan in this only test match, who is nursing an injury. The destructive batter Das would like to avenge their loss against the Visitors AFG three years ago. Bangladesh has a strong side with an experienced batting line-up, and the hosts' skipper would like to get the best out of his players in this game. 

At the top, Bangladesh will expect a good start from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tamil Iqbal. The middle order has a lot of experience, and the team will need a good show from Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Litton Das. BAN also has Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz add solidity to this line-up down the order who can play a crucial role in both innings of the match.

Bangladeshi will expect good spells with the new ball from Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed, who will look to make early inroads. Ebadot Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will look to use the conditions well in this game and trouble the Afghans. The left-arm spinner Taijul Islam must do well in the supporting role. 

On the other side, Hashmatullah Shahidi-led AFG returns to Test cricket after two long years in the longest format of the game, and this match will see several players making their debut. Afghanistan is without its top bowlers, who have been rested for this series. It weakens their bowling attack, and Shahidi will need to make the best out of the resources at hand and win this game.  

The Visitors have Ibrahim Zadran and Nasir Jamal who have to bat well at the top as the Hosts' attack will probe them. In the middle order, the Visitors have the strengths, and AFG will look for a good show from Rahmat Shah, Shahidi, and Abdul Malik. Afghanistan will also need contributions down the order from Afsar Zazai, Abdul Malik, and Karim Janat. However, they will be heading for this match without Rashid Khan.

The bowling attack will be up against an experienced batting line-up, and AFG needs good spells from Yamin Ahmadzai and Amir Hamza with the new ball in the absence of Rashid Khan. Both Izharulhaq Naveed and Zahir Khan will have to bowl long spells and trouble the hosts' batters with their variations. They also have Abdul Malik and Janat add to the side's bowling options who may an important in this game. 

Both sides have played each other only once in Test cricket so far. Under the captaincy of Rashid Khan-led AFG thrashed BAN by 224 runs in their only Test meeting in Chattogram in 2019.

Match Details

Match: Afghanistan Tour of Bangladesh, Only Test, BAN vs AFG

Date: Jun 14, Wed – Jun 18, Sun

Time: 09:30 AM 

Venue: Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Pitch & Weather Report

Shere Bangla National Cricket isn't a venue where any team would be looking for a 4th innings chase playing against a quality spin attack. Batting becomes difficult at this wicket from Day 3 onward. We expect the captain to win the toss to bat first on this wicket and aim for a sizable lead in the first innings on this dry track.

This pitch is a typical sub-continental one where the batters enjoy batting in the first couple of days while the spinners dominate as the pitch wears down from Day 3 onward. There isn't much for the seamers on this track, and batters who build their innings do well. The conditions will be challenging for the batters as they won't have the flat surface they are used to at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The maximum temperature will remain at 36°C, with a low of 27°C with 57% humidity, and a slow wind speed of 18-21 Km/hr for the only Test Championship Final between Bangladesh and Afghanistan Jun 14, Wed – Jun 18, Sun. The skies over Dhaka be cloudy, and we expect rain during the game for the first two days of the match.

BAN vs AFG Squads

BAN: Litton Das (c & wk), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Zakir Hasan (wk), Tamim Iqbal, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Musfik Hasan, Shoriful Islam

AFG: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Izharulhaq Naveed, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zahir Khan, Amir Hamza, Bahir Shah, Abdul Malik, Mohammad Ibrahim, Nasir Jamal, Nijat Masood.

BAN vs AFG: Probable XIs

BAN: Litton Das (c & wk), Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mahmudul Hasan Joy

Match Prediction

The Visitors come into this game after a long break from Test cricket. Many players in this team haven't played this format and won't have time to adjust to the game's pace for the Afghans. AFG bowlers must do well for the side to win. The Hosts have enjoyed success at home, and BAN has a strong batting line-up. The nine-placed test side has experience with the bat and the ball puts them ahead of AFG in this game. We say BAN to dominate this match

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