Bangladesh’s second and final group stage game against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi Thursday has lost its significance due to the surprising change in the fixture made by the ACC.
The ACC without any explanation Wednesday morning changed the format of the tournament and according to reports, the alterations were done to ensure India play all their second round matches in Dubai and skip the hectic travels to and from Abu Dhabi.
The ACC declared Afghanistan and Bangladesh as Team B1 and B2 respectively while in Group A India were named A1 and Pakistan A2.
The ACC is believed to have been able to do the mechanism as all the four teams had already qualified for the Super Four round before playing their respective last group phase matches.
The result to some extent has aided Bangladesh. The Tigers do not need to travel to and from Abu Dhabi for back-to-back matches but what was done to aid a particular team was totally unethical, that Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza confronted.
Mashrafe unhappy with late Asia Cup schedule changes https://t.co/epcaaOdbR4#Bangladesh skipper #Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been irked by the last moment #AsiaCup format changes to accommodate for a more lenient schedule for defending champions #India.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 19, 2018
With no meaning of a result, Bangladesh will look into the opportunity to rest their key and injured players in the Afghan game.
The Tigers have to play their first Super Four game against India in Dubai within a span of less than 16 hours from the finish of the Afghanistan game.
The unbearable Middle Eastern heat has been a challenge and Bangladesh would not like to burn out their important players just a night before their first game in the second round.
Injured players Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan are the first options for rest, thus giving potential opportunities to the likes of Mominul Haque, Ariful Haque and spinner Nazmul Islam in the playing XI.
The vacancy in the opening pair after Tamim Iqbal got ruled out due to injury is to be filled with left-handed batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who will be making his ODI debut.
@BCBtigers will be happy to finish the group phase as the champion but a probable hectic schedule has come up as a worry for the side.https://t.co/ax8yQrjSEL#BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKETTEAM #ASIACUPCRICKET #ASIACUP #ACC
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 18, 2018
Mashrafe can also think of resting himself, bringing in pacer Abu Haider Rony, and expose the young bowlers to bigger challenges.
Under such circumstances, all-rounder Mahmudullah might step in as the Bangladesh captain for the toss.
The situation is similar for Afghanistan. Having played Bangladesh, the Afghanistan team will need to travel back to Abu Dhabi the next day for their first Super Four game, against Pakistan.
It is understood that plans were being made if Afghanistan team can stay back in Abu Dhabi. However, no confirmation had been announced when this report was filed.
Till date, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced each other five times in the format with Bangladesh finishing on top with three wins.
Young players need to fill Tamim-sized gap https://t.co/jFjgL2dgVH#Bangladesh head #coach Steve #Rhodes said whoever is going to replace opener #Tamim Iqbal will have a daunting task ahead.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 18, 2018
The last time Bangladesh lost to Afghanistan was in 2016 when the latter toured Dhaka for a three-match ODI series.
Bangladesh had won the series 2-1 against the war-ravaged nation.
Bangladesh Head to head Afghanistan
5 ODIs 5
3 Wins 2
60 Win % 40
Tamim Iqbal (237) Most runs Asghar Afghan (159)
Tamim (118) HS Asghar (90*)
Taskin Ahmed (8) Most wickets Mohammad Nabi (10)
Shakib al Hasan (4/47)BBI Dawlat Zadran (4/73)
