ODI cricket has been Bangladesh’s strongest suit for a while. Especially in subcontinental conditions, Bangladesh definitely pose a threat in this format. Given Sri Lanka were also depleted bowling wise, not many expected

Bangladesh to cave in so easily in their first game of the campaign. The nature of the tournament is such where one loss could put you on the brink of elimination. And now, that demoralising loss in their first game has already ensured Bangladesh are in a must-win situation.

A loss against Afghanistan on Sunday (September 3) will knock them out of the competition and not even reaching the Super 4 stages can have an adverse effect just before the World Cup next month.

Batting will be Bangladesh’s primary concern. Sri Lanka’s spinners handled the Bangladesh top order and then Matheesha Pathirana took over from the halfway mark. Going by the recent record in international games staged in Lahore, batting might not be that easy once again for the men in green. And to make matters worse, they will be up against a formidable spin trio.

Bangladesh can still take solace from the fact that they beat Afghanistan in their last three encounters when they hosted them in July. However, it was Afghanistan who came out on top in the ODI series which once again highlights the progress they have been making on the international stage given not many teams topple Bangladesh in their own den.

Their confidence has also taken a bit of a beating after they lost 3-0 to Pakistan very recently but a win here will help them turn things around with a place in the next round of the Asia Cup guaranteed.

Squads:

Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Gulbadin Naib, Riaz Hassan, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi

Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Naim, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nasum Ahmed, Anamul Haque