In the World Cup 2023, Now it is time for the battle between the 8th-ranked Bangladesh and the 9th-ranked Afghanistan. The third match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will be played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala. Bangladesh would fancy their chances as they have got a strong core unit
While Afghanistan won their only warm-up game against Sri Lanka by 6 wickets with 23 balls remaining, Bangladesh had a decent start. Bangladesh won their first warm-up game against Sri Lanka by 7 wickets with 48 balls remaining after three half-centuries from the top-order batters. But they lost to England by 4 wickets in the second game.
Bangladesh suffered a setback before the start of the warm-up fixtures as their skipper Shakib injured his foot during a practice session. But he will be available for the first game against Afghanistan. Afghanistan recalled Naveen-ul-Haq & Azmatullah Omarzai in the World Cup squad after both missed the Asia Cup.
Both teams played last month against each other in the Asia Cup at Lahore. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (112) & Najmul Hossain Shanto (104) helped Bangladesh register 334 runs on the board. The Bangladeshi pace attack took 8 wickets to win the game by 89 runs. This was the highest match aggregate (579) involving both teams in the ODIs.
In 15 ODIs, Bangladesh has 9 wins over Afghanistan. But in World Cups, both teams share 1 victory each.
THE VENUE FOR BANGLADESH-AFGHANISTAN MATCH
The third ODI of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will be played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala. Black soil pitches are likely to be used during this World Cup at the HPCA Stadium.
The black soil wickets produce true bounce, making it a venue, where the quick bowlers will have some joy at least in the early stages of an innings
Average 1st Innings Score: 214
Average 2nd Innings Score: 184
TEAM PREVIEW
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh are having a tough season this year. They have won just 8 out of 20 games and have 7 losses in the last 10. Playing without Tamim Iqbal will be a tough task for skipper Shakib al Hasan. Tanzid Hasan is set to take his place to open the innings for Bangladesh.
Tanzid Hasan had 84 & 45 runs in the two warm-up games. He will open with Litton Das. Das has 378 runs against Afghanistan in 9 games with a century and two half-centuries. He and Mushfiqur Rahim have scored 282 runs in partnership against Afghanistan in 3 games at an average of 94.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz will come at number three. Miraz is having great form with the bat. After scoring a century against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, Miraz scored half-centuries in both warm-up games as a stand-in skipper. He will be the batter to watch out for.
All eyes will be on Shakib who will be playing his last World Cup. In 29 World Cup games, Shakib has 1146 runs and 34 wickets. Against Afghanistan, he is the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh with 27 wickets in 14 games.
Tanzid Hasan’s U19 World Cup winner partner Shoriful Islam will lead the bowling attack with Taskin Ahmed. Islam has 13 wickets in the last 6 games for Bangladesh at an economy of 4.18. On the other hand, Taskin has 11 in 5. The duo had taken 7 wickets against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup game at Lahore. Ahmed will be the bowler to watch out for.
PROBABLE XI OF BANGLADESH v AFGHANISTAN
Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan is struggling this year to find their feet. With 8 losses in 11 games including six in the last six games. But a win over Sri Lanka in the Warm-up game must have raised their confidence. Rahmanullah Gurbaz will open the innings with Ibrahim Zadran.
Gurbaz played a knock of 119 in 92 balls against Sri Lanka in the warm-up. The duo are the only ones who have scored centuries for Afghanistan this year. Gurbaz has 376 runs in 11 games at an average of 34.18. Zadran is Afghanistan’s leading run-scorer this year with 478 runs at an average of 47.80 – the best amongst all. He will be the batter to look out for.
Rahmat Shah and Najibullah Zadran will come as number three and four. Shah played a knock of 93 against Sri Lanka while adding 212 runs for the second-wicket partnership with Gurbaz. Mohammad Nabi will be playing his last World Cup. Nabi took 4 wickets in the warm-up game. Nabi has 10 wickets this year in 11 games with the best economy.
Afghanistan’s spin sensation Rashid Khan is going through a rough patch. He has taken just 9 wickets in the last 8 ODIs. But he has the potential to turn up for the big games. Against Bangladesh, Rashid has 19 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 3.91. Fazalhaq Farooqi will be the bowler to watch out for. Farooqi has 15 wickets in 11 games this year but his economy is a bit concerned for Afghanistan.
PROBABLE XI OF AFGHANISTAN v BANGLADESH
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
PREDICTION FOR THE MATCH
Afghanistan has lost 14 of their 15 ICC ODI World Cup games. The one they have won is against Bangladesh. Though Afghanistan have won three of their last 5 games against Bangladesh, they are going through a poor form. Bangladesh are also riding in the same boat, but their chances are higher to win this game.
Match Prediction: Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan in this Game.
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