Bangladesh national team has been going through a lean patch but the lackluster Tigers will be desperate to beat Afghanistan in their own backyard Tuesday in the important final of the tri-nation T20 series to clinch the silverware whose shine may efface their gloomy phase.
Afghanistan may be a new side in the big league of cricket but with their fearless approach they have spread threat among big guns and Bangladesh specially felt the heat in the shortest format of the game.
As a matter of fact, Afghanistan has become one of the hoodoos for Tigers as they remained winless in this format of the game against the emerging side of South Asia.
Bangladesh will focus on not losing too many early wickets in the first 10 overs when the side goes to bat against Afghanistan in the final of the tri-nation T20I series at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Tuesday.https://t.co/0vPc6bIHHo
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 23, 2019
Afghanistan have defeated Bangladesh four times in their last five outings in T20Is. They had whitewashed Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series back in 2018 and also defeated them in the first match of the ongoing series in Dhaka last week.
Bangladesh at last broke the hoodoo by defeating them in Chittagong on Saturday but that was not convincing as Afghans seemed to be reluctant after sealing the final berth. So, Bangladesh camp is expecting a tough fight from the Afghans who are sitting seventh position (243 rating points) in ICC T20 ranking while Bangladesh are ranked as number 10th team (220 rating points) in the world.
Bangladesh cricket team is facing ups and downs since the later stage if ICC 2019 Cricket World Cup as results are not coming according to expectation and plan. Bangladesh started the World Cup well but finished poorly and finished the world event as eighth among ten nations.
Hamstring injury has put Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan uncertain for the final of the tri-nation T20I series against hosts Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.https://t.co/tdSZbxmKJQ
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 23, 2019
Right after the World Cup, they lost to three ODIs away to Sri Lanka. After that they lost to Afghanistan in one off Test series which can be considered as one of the most shocking defeats for Tigers.
Then in the ongoing tri-nation series they succumb to Afghanistan comprehensively. But Since then a slight improvement was seen as Bangladesh won two matches, one against Zimbabwe and one against Afghanistan in Chittagong phase of the tournament, to gain some momentum.
Bangladesh won their last match against Afghanistan by four wickets chasing to a moderate total with captain Shakib al Hasan leading from the front.
But today’s game will be a different encounter as it is the series finale and Afghans will try to blaze all their guns to achieve the trophy away from their home.
Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim often attracts criticism over his ability, or in other words lack of it, as the wicket-keeper.https://t.co/Od5J1k3MbG
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 23, 2019
Their skipper Rashid Khan is slightly injured and may have chance to miss the final, but Afghanistan camp has enough spin depth to cause trouble for Tigers’ batsmen.
On the other hand Bangladesh might go for an extra pacer in the squad as in last match pace bowling duo Mohammad Saifuddin and Sahfiul Islam bowled well against the Afghans and today’s pitch is expected to have some grass on it.
Whatever the playing eleven will be, Bangladesh need a good opening stand as in recent matches openers have not performed well and failed to give a solid start.
Weather can be a concern as forecast says there might be rain on evening. The match will start on 6:30pm local time.
