Mashrafe starts late, deploys eight bowlers
Bangladesh’s clear intention of not burning off the players was evident as the side had eight bowlers in the attack to share the 50 overs in the Afghanistan innings. The opposition had gone to bat first after winning the toss in a game where the result had zero significance. It was widely discussed the Tigers would not go all out and rather save energy for the vital Super Four stage game against India the next day. Bangladesh not using the specialists and not going with an attacking plan in full played a key role in allowing the Afghans accumulate 255. And the Tigers’ strategy was evident with the fact that skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza did not come into the attack with the brand new cherry, and none of the bowlers were deployed for long spells. It was the first instance since 2006 and only the second time in his career that Mashrafe came on to bowl as the second change bowler.
Nazmul contradicts stance on schedule change
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 20, 2018
BCB president Nazmul Hasan’s statement over the change in the Asia Cup schedule during the tournament has created confusion and contradiction. https://t.co/LPRNzHU1Sj#BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET
Haider hunts two on debut
Left-arm pacer Abu Haider Rony had a decent ODI debut finishing with a respectable return. Haider had come in as the replacement of pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was rested in the game. Haider, who came to the international scene in 2016 through a T20I, was introduced in the attack at the second over and bagged a maiden ODI wicket, dismissing Afghanistan opener Ihsanullah in just the fourth ball, following back-to-back boundaries. The ball was short and wide but it had finished hard into the hands of cover fielder Mohammad Mithun to give Haider great joy. Three overs later, Haider bagged his second. On that occasion, he dismissed No 3 batsman Rahmat Shah. The right-handed batsman saw the ball rattle the stumps as it travelled from a beautiful angle. The batsman was drawn forward with a length ball only to get an inside edge with clear daylight between bat and pad.
Bangladeshi expats turn Abu Dhabi into Mirpur
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 20, 2018
Bangladesh cricket team played their first match in Abu Dhabi when they faced Afghanistan on Thursday in the Asia Cup. https://t.co/VvfgujXYyQ#BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET
Happy Birthday Rashid
Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan celebrated his 20th birthday by registering his third ODI half-century. The right-handed batsman, who batted at No 9, struck an unbeaten 57 off just 32 balls that took Afghanistan’s score past the 250-run mark. Rashid came to the crease in the 41st over and had pressed the gas hard in the last five overs of the innings, adding 57. Rashid added 95 swashbuckling unbeaten runs for the eighth wicket with Gulbadin Naib to finish the innings on a strong note.
