After scoring an ODI series win over Bangladesh, Afghanistan are all set to stun the hosts in the T20 format as well. Both teams will collide for a t20-match T20 series starting Friday at Sylhet District Stadium. Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced each other in 9 T20 internationals, with Afghanistan winning 6 and Bangladesh winning 3.
Considering the stats, Bangladesh have not performed at its best when it comes to playing the T20 format against Afghanistan. The top bookmakers in India have odds for this match on their platforms.
Afghanistan will be buzzing with confidence for the T20 series because of their ODI series win and their upper hand in the T20 format.
The hosts will be in shock after witnessing an aggressive performance by the visitors. However, a win in the last game of the ODI series came out as a constellation price for Bangladesh. Bowling first, Shoriful Islam picked up 4 wickets in 9 overs at an economy of 2.33. On the batting front, Mohammad Naim and Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to make an impact. It was Litton Das who was the match-winner as he scored 53 runs off 60 balls at a strike rate of 88.33. Team management will be expecting a similar performance from him in the T20 series.
Shakib Al Hasan will be the key player for Bangladesh in the T20 format.
Predicted Lineup: Litton Das (c), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan will be happy for themselves after scoring a series win against the hosts in the ODI format but now they will be under pressure to repeat the same result in the T20 format. The team lost the 3rd ODI and the major fault lies with the batting departments. After the failure of the opening lineup, the middle order was unable to handle the pressure of scoring runs and was outcasted by the Bangladeshi bowlers. Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up two wickets in the match and will be expected to carry forward the momentum in the T20 series.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi will be leading the same team as ODI in the first T20 match.
Predicted Lineup: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rashid Khan, Mujib ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmed, Azmatullah Omarzai
Afghanistan has the upper hand in the head-to-head stats against Bangladesh and they are also coming after a series win against the same team. However, Bangladesh has been an unbeatable team at the home pitches when it comes to T20 cricket. We predict a win for Bangladesh in the first T20 match.