The three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan from today (Wednesday) at the Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chottagram is very significant for both the sides as it is a part of Cricket World Cup Super League. The first ODI match is scheduled to start at 11am.
If the Tigers win the series at least by 2-1 then Bangladesh will move into the top of the World Cup Super League leaving England behind who are on top of the point table with 95 points from 15 matches. At present, Bangladesh are on second position with 80 points. India are on third position with 79 points. Both the teams played 12 matches.
If Bangladesh can whitewash the Afghan team by 3-0 then the ODI ranking of Bangladesh will also be developed. The tigers are now on seventh position with 91 points. They will be on sixth position after winning.
However, the series is very much important as the host Tigers would never want to concede any defeat but to win all three matches in bid to seal their room in the World Cup 2023 in India.
Meanwhile, it will very tough task for the Tigers to obtain even a win in three match away series against South Africa, so Bangladesh will desperately try to blank Afghanistan with winning the home series by 3-0, otherwise they would be in back-foot.
Afghanistan will play against Bangladesh with some good morale when they did not suffer any defeat playing six matches in the ICC ODI Super League and are in the sixth position in the point table.
So Afghanistan will also try their level best to win. It seems the series will be very competitive. It would be very tough game for both the hosts and visitors. Bangladesh will obviously make every effort to win the series for achieving their goal.
The Afghan players have another advantage, as some of the players played in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League which also helped them much to be prepared for the series.
The world-class spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman can appear as great threat for any team. Bangladesh batters might be aware of that if they can handle the spinners of Afghanistan sensibly, it will be easier for them to win.
Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mahmudul Hasan Joy.
Afghanistan squad: Hasmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah (vice-captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah, Yamin Ahmadzai.
