After being whitewashed in two Test series against South Africa at home, now the ODI series against Afghanistan turned into a big challenge for the Tigers. However, this time Bangladesh is optimistic about the victory.
Right hand middle order batter Tawhid Hridoy is confident of winning the Afghanistan challenge in UAE.
The three-match ODI series will begin next Wednesday in Sharjah. Bangladesh wants to forget the failure against Proteas and play their best cricket in the upcoming limited over series against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is now a very strong opponent. They played the semi-final of the last T20 World Cup. Moreover, the team won the series against South Africa in Sharjah a few days ago.
In addition, they have won three of the last four matches against Bangladesh in bilateral matches. So, a difficult challenge is waiting for Bangladesh.
Middle-order batter Tawhid Hriday said before leaving the country that Bangladesh is ready to take the Afghan challenges.
Towhid Hridoy, ahead of their departure for UAE on Saturday said, “Afghanistan’s bowling department specially, the spinners have always been their strength. We all know that. Now every team is strong in international cricket, as the best cricketers play in the international circuit.”
“There is nothing to be worried about them. We want to demonstrate our best perform in the series. We must have to take challenge,” said Hridoy.
Meanwhile, the second contingent of the Tigers’ 15-man squad left Dhaka on Sunday following the first group left on Saturday for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
The players who were not the part of the recently concluded Test series against South Africa (SA) were in the first group - Soumya Sarkar, Jaker Ali Anik, Towhid Hriody, Rishad Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, five players were in the group.
The Afghanistan series will be played in UAE, that was taken as on Afghan’s venue which is also a preparation platform for the next year’s ICC Champions Trophy for the Tigers.
Bangladesh will play their first ODI series since March when they played against Sri Lanka at home, after that Bangladesh only played T20 and Tests sereis.
Meanwhile, the Tigers experienced a horrible T20 campaign, though it looked good when they won a historical Test series against Pakistan. But they suffered humiliating seris defeat to India in away and to South Africa at home ground.
The three ODIs against Afghanistan scheduled for November 6, 9 and 11 when all the matches will take places at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After the series against Afghanistan in UAE, Bangladesh will visit West Indies for a full bilateral
series that includes all three formats of cricket.
Bangaldesh Squad for Afghnistan ODI series: Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Touhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Vice Captain), Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana.
