Bangladesh's Asia Cup journey hangs in the balance as they prepare to take on Afghanistan. A victory is imperative to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the next round, while a defeat would spell their elimination from the tournament.
In what marks their first ODI appearance in Pakistan in 15 years, Bangladesh will face a critical showdown against Afghanistan in Lahore on Sunday. Their campaign started on a sour note with a dismal batting performance that led to a big defeat to Sri Lanka.
Also read: Bangladesh suffer thumping defeat in Asia Cup Vs. S Lanka
Following the match, Shakib Al Hasan squarely pointed the finger at the batters for theunfavourablee outcome.
As Bangladesh gears up to confront Afghanistan, the pivotal question looms: Can they stage a comeback in their batting, aligning with their strategic plan? Afghanistan, known for its rising prowess in limited-over cricket, boasts a deeper familiarity with Pakistan's conditions, possibly granting them an upper hand in Sunday's encounter.
The Bangladesh team arrived in Lahore on Friday night, completing a whirlwind journey across two countries in just three days to participate in two 50-over matches.
Bangladesh's head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, expressed concerns about the rigorous schedule potentially impacting their performance. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that both teams face the same demanding circumstances.
Also read: Asia Cup: Tigers depart for Pakistan
While Bangladesh has a historical advantage with eight wins in their 14 encounters against Afghanistan, the latter has demonstrated resilience and competence against their rivals. As the tigers chase their Asia Cup aspirations, Afghanistan stand as a formidable challenge that could potentially derail their campaign.
Also read: Asia Cup 2023: Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI
Bangladesh Asia Cup squad:
Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shamim Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed
Afghanistan Asia Cup Squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (†), Riaz Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Abdul Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Saleem, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad.