The word “exciting” has been a part whenever Bangladesh took on Afghanistan in the shorter formats.
Despite the vast difference in experience and strength, Afghanistan have always found a way to upset the Bangladesh cricketers and their fans.
In the eight ODIs against Bangladesh, Afghanistan have managed to win three playing some dominant cricket over the opposition.
In T20Is, the sides have met four times and astonishingly, the Afghans have won thrice, exposing the Tigers’ lackings in the shortest format.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said he and his team believe the contest between the two outfits will be a great one as the sides prepare to lock horns with each other in their first ever Test match, starting Thursday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Host @BCBtigers will look to recover from the recent lows when they take on @ACBofficials in the one-off Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Thursday.https://t.co/GP9ALy8uaf#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #AFGHANISTAN #ACB #AFGHANS
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 4, 2019
Rashid realizes the differences between the two teams but at this point is only focused on winning the game.
“We are really excited about [the game]. Playing Test is always huge [pride]. We never think about the opposition team, when we played against India and Ireland. We always focus on playing Test cricket in a Test way. Play it different from the other formats of cricket. This format is totally a different ball game,” said Rashid to reporters Wednesday.
“We are really excited about the game and we are trying to give our 100%. We know each other. Bangladesh and we have played lot of ODIs and T20Is. We know their batsmen and we know their bowlers. And they know us as well. So it will be a great contest. We will try to give our 100% and enjoy the game. We don’t think about the result. We are just focusing on doing each and everything on the right way,” the world’s No 1 T20I bowler added.
Rashid will be the one his side will look forward to not only as the captain, but also to contribute with the ball.
The 20-year-old has been one of the pillars of Afghanistan’s success in limited-overs and a flagbearer of the country, playing T20 leagues around the globe.
@BCBtigers Test and T20I captain @Sah75official took time off following a magnificent campaign in the @cricketworldcup 2019 in England and Wales and given the character of the cricketer, he is likely to put his all into maintaining that.https://t.co/KjLmqWraty#BCBTIGERS #BCB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 4, 2019
All eyes will be on Rashid, who is going to emerge as the world’s youngest Test captain with the toss today, on how he reacts in the middle given the added responsibility.
“I have senior players like [Mohammad] Nabi, Asghar [Afghan] and they always help me and I am learning for it. It’s a learning time for me and it won’t be something like I put extra pressure on me as I am a captain and I have to do this or that. I already put these things out from my mind. When I am bowling my full focus is on my bowling rather than to be a captain. I just try to enjoy and not try to add extra pressure on me. If the captain is under pressure, the team will be under the same. I will try to be as relaxed, as calm and try to enjoy the game,” explained the Afghanistan Test skipper.
