Bangladesh achieved a huge victory against Afghanistan in the latest Test in Dhaka’s Mirpur. Chasing the difficult target of 662 runs given by the hosts, the visitors’ batting stopped at 115 runs. As a result, Bangladesh left the field with a victory of 546 runs. The victory in the Mirpur Test was Bangladesh’s biggest margin of victory against any team so far. And this is the third-biggest win in Test history. However, this is a pure example of teamwork, while some of the players have changed the momentum. Let’s see the key performers in Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Test 2023. Key Performers of Bangladesh Team in the Recent Test Against Afghanistan The Tigers did really well in their Test match against the Afghans. They did a great job in both batting and bowling. Two openers, Zakir Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, have played well in batting; Najmul Hossain Shanto, Muminul Haque, Liton Das, and Mushfiqur Rahim have handled the responsibility of the middle order greatly. After bringing a big score with the bat, the Tigers performed their bowling duties with potency. The following are the key performers in the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Test. Najmul Hossain Shanto For the Bangladesh cricket team, Shanto scored hundreds in both innings of this match. He scored 146 and 124 runs, respectively, and practically ensured Bangladesh’s victory. After Mominul Haque, Shanto became the second Bangladeshi batsman to score a century in both innings of a Test match. Read more: BCB Announces T20I Squad for Afghanistan Series Shanto took 118 balls to reach his century in the first innings and 115 balls in the second innings. He hit 23 fours and 2 sixes to reach 146 runs in the first innings. Shanto hit 15 fours in the second innings. He started the third day with 54 runs. He added 212 runs with Mahmudul Hasan for the second wicket in the first innings. This time he added 171 runs with Zakir Hasan. Shanto won the Man of the Match award by scoring a century in two consecutive innings. Ebadot Hossain Ebadot Hossain picked up four of Afghanistan’s first eight wickets in the first innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul quickly picked up wickets and wrapped up Afghanistan before 150 runs. Even though Ebadot did not get 5 wickets, his success will be considered a big achievement. He got all four wickets in bouncers. He gave only 47 runs to get all those wickets. In the press conference at the end of the second day’s play, the Tiger pacer said that bouncers and his intelligence worked well to pick the important wickets. He bowled 7 overs in the second innings and got one wicket. Read more: BCB Announces Bangladesh ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series Mominul Haque The first innings did not go well for Mominul Haque. However, this left-hander made a great comeback in the second innings against Afghanistan. This cricketer from Cox’s Bazar has seen the magic figure of three digits in extraordinary batting. The former captain hit a boundary in the 73rd over of the second innings to bring up the 12th century of his career in Test. He played 123 balls to score the century. He hit 12 fours. Mominul last scored a century against Sri Lanka in April 2021. After that, in the last two, he scored three fifties in 26 innings of 14 Tests. Earlier, Mominul scored only 15 runs in the first innings. He hit a four and six off 25 balls before falling victim to debutant pacer Nijat Masood. Taskin Ahmed Taskin did not get any wickets in the first innings, where he bowled only 7 overs and 48 runs. However, his excellent bowling in the second innings led Bangladesh to get the historic victory. Taskin was absent in the past few months due to injury. He returned from injury and took 4 wickets for 37 runs. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Fixtures, Schedules, Teams, Head-to-Head Records The Test ended before the midday break on the fourth day, and this credit goes to Taskin. He took one of Afghanistan’s 2 wickets on the third day. With 3 more wickets on Saturday, he stopped the Afghans for 115 runs. Shoriful Islam Shoriful took 5 wickets in total, comprising both innings. He bowled 8 overs in the first innings and got 2 wickets. He got two maiden overs and gave only 28 runs. Shoriful became more aggressive in the second innings and got 3 wickets. He bowled 10 overs and got one maiden over. He gave 28 runs in this innings too. Key Performers of the Afghanistan Team against Bangladesh None of the Afghan players except Nijat Masood played a big role in the Test match. Let’s see Nijat’s tremendous performance in detail. Nijat Masood Afghanistan’s only achievement in the match can be said to be the 5 wickets of debutant pacer Nijat Masood in the first innings. He also made a rare feat in cricket by dismissing Zakir Hasan with his first ball in his career. This left-handed pacer picked up 5 wickets in the debut match. Nijat Masood became the second Afghanistan cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut. He returned Zakir Hasan for 1 run. Read more: England dismisses Australia to take 7-run lead in thrilling Ashes opener Besides, he sent back Muminul Haque for 15 runs, Mushfiqur Rahim for 47 runs, Taijul Islam for 0 runs, and Shoriful Islam for 6 runs. Nijat balled 16 overs in the first inning and got two maiden overs. However, he could not shine in the second innings as he balled 12.5 overs and got no wickets. Final Words In the 2023 BAN vs AFG Test, Bangladesh wanted to show off their power and Tigers did a fantastic job and completely dominated the Afghans, achieving their biggest victory ever.

Left-handed batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto shines with a century in the Dhaka Test against Afghanistan, setting the tone for the hosts. Marking only his third century in Test matches, Shanto displayed exceptional batting prowess and contributed well to Bangladesh's innings. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to bowl first. They quickly found success by dismissing Zakir Hasan for just 1 run. Read more: LPL Auction 2023: Tamim Iqbal among 24 Bangladeshi Cricketers Who Signed Up Nijat Masood delivered a length ball on the line of the stumps, which sharply moved and eluded Zakir's attempted shot. The Afghan players appealed for a caught-behind, but the umpire dismissed the appeal. However, television replays clearly showed that the ball made contact with the bat, resulting in Nijat taking a wicket off the very first ball of his Test career. Despite this early setback, the Bangladeshi batting line-up remained resilient. Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy formed a remarkable partnership of 212 runs for the second wicket. Their batting display resembled an ODI innings, demonstrating their solid technique and stroke-making ability. Read: BAN vs AFG Test: Afghanistan opt to bowl first in Dhaka The partnership was eventually broken when Joy was dismissed for a well-earned 76 off 137 balls. Bangladesh is currently missing the services of key players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, both of whom are nursing injuries. Their absence poses a challenge for the team, requiring other players to step up and fill the void. Similarly, Afghanistan is also facing the absence of their star player, Rashid Khan, who is sidelined due to injury concerns. Read: Litton Das as Captain: Test experience could mean advantage over Afghanistan

The test match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is set to begin on June 14, 2023, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. This one-off Test match promises to be an exciting encounter between two competitive sides, showcasing their skills and determination in the longest format of the game. A significant highlight of this match is the appointment of Litton Das as the captain of the Bangladesh Test cricket squad. The free-scoring opening batsman and wicketkeeper will lead his country for the first time in Test cricket, which makes the match even more interesting. As both teams gear up for this thrilling face-off, cricket enthusiasts in Bangladesh eagerly await the on-field action and the strategic battles that will unfold. Prospect of Litton Das as Captain of Bangladesh Test Squad Litton is appointed captain because Shakib Al Hasan cannot play due to a finger injury. During his Test debut in 2015, Litton gave a bright message about the future of batting. He is going to lead Bangladesh in Tests after eight years of many ups and downs. Litton will be the 12th captain of the Bangladesh Test cricket team. Read more: 2023 Bangladesh Vs Afghanistan Test: Head-to-head records, Who is favorite? Even though he is stepping in temporarily, Litton feels confident because he has been doing a great job as a wicketkeeper for a while now. Last year, he scored 800 runs in Test matches, which is a big achievement. Only two other Bangladeshi players have reached that milestone in a single year. Litton Das has been a vice captain under Shakib Al Hasan for the Bangladesh Test team for the last year. On top of that, Litton served as captain last December in the one day series. So, he has some experience leading the team. However, some fans are worried because Litton sometimes struggles to turn his good starts into big scores. After the great potential at the beginning of his career, it was not long before darkness fell. After passing through the stormy tide, he turned around and paved his own way. And recent form is also in Litton’s favour. So, Litton Das has a good prospect as captain of the Test squad. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Afghanistan Test Squad Analysis Does Test Experience Give Bangladesh Advantage over Afghanistan? Bangladesh has a more extensive history and experience in playing Test cricket compared to Afghanistan. This experience can be an advantage for Bangladesh, as they have a better understanding of the strategies required to succeed in the longest format of the game. Bangladesh made its Test debut in November 2000, while Afghanistan played its first Test match in June 2018. This means that Bangladesh has been playing Test cricket for nearly 18 years longer than Afghanistan. As of April 2023, Bangladesh has played 137 Test matches, while Afghanistan has played 6 Test matches. Bangladesh’s Test record has shown steady improvement over the years, with notable victories against top cricketing nations. They have registered Test wins against teams like Australia, England, and New Zealand, showcasing their ability to compete at the highest level. On the other hand, Afghanistan’s Test experience is limited, and they are still finding their footing in the format. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis In terms of individual player statistics, Bangladesh has several experienced Test cricketers with impressive records. Players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have been involved in Bangladesh’s Test successes. These players bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, which can be invaluable in a Test match scenario. In contrast, Afghanistan’s Test team is relatively inexperienced, with most of their players having played only a handful of Test matches. While they have talented players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, their overall experience in Test cricket is limited compared to Bangladesh. However, both of them are absent from upcoming matches. So, Bangladesh’s extensive Test experience, both as a team and in terms of individual player records, gives them an advantage over Afghanistan in the upcoming Test match on June 14, 2023. Read more: BAN vs AFG Series 2023: Fixtures, Schedules, Teams, Head-to-Head Records Final Words Litton Das is excited to step onto the field as Test captain for the Bangladesh team. However, he has done it before in the ODI format, so it will not be a big challenge for him. With a great mindset, Litton is determined to give his best and wants to play an excellent inning. On the whole, Bangladesh’s Test experience will definitely give them an advantage over Afghanistan in the BAN vs AFG Test match on June 14, 2023.