Bangladesh versus Afghanistan: T20 series preview

The three-match T20 series between the two emerging powers of world cricket, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, will start on 3 June at the north Indian city of Dehradun. This series is likely to produce keenly contested matches, with both the teams trying to improve their ICC T20 rankings.

The teams
Right-hand middle-order batsman Asghar Stanikzai is leading the Afghan side. A solid rather than a spectacular bat, he is likely to be the steady presence in the top order as the likes of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad and others would go for their shots.

But most of the focus will be on the Afghan spin bowling, as both Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman would like to follow up their fine showings at the recently concluded IPL. Veteran Mohammad Nabi will support them with his gentle off-spin.

The Tigers have suffered a setback with Mustafizur Rahman’s withdrawal due to an injury. Abul Hasan, a right-arm fast bowler and a more than useful left-handed bat, has been called up as his replacement.

As usual, the team will be built around the experienced quartet of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, but Tigers fans would like more consistency from the likes of Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman. Also, there are opportunities for the young all-rounders; Ariful Islam, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat to enhance their career prospects.

(Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

History
The cricketing relationship between these two nations was established in November 2010, as Bangladesh defeated the Afghans by five wickets in a T20 match at Guangzhou, China, during the Asian Games. Although this wasn’t an officially sanctioned international match, this was the final and the Asian Games gold medal was at stake.

Batting first, the Afghans scored 8/118 against some tight bowling. Stanikzai top scored with 38 not out. In reply Nayeem Islam top-scored with 34 not out, but it was Sabbir’s quick-fire 33 not out which saw the Tigers cross the line with three balls to spare. This was Bangladesh’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal, and it remains the only one.

The Bangladesh team, led by Mohammad Ashraful, mostly consisted of emerging players at the time. However, the Afghan team in recent years has improved dramatically, and there is no scope for complacency for the Tigers.

The only official T20 match between the two sides, played in Dhaka in March 2014, saw a thumping nine-wicket win for the hosts. Shakib was the man of the match after taking 8/3. However, it is worth mentioning that the Afghans are currently ranked eighth in the ICC T20 rankings while the Tigers are languishing in tenth place.

(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File)

Venue
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in the Raipur area of Dehradun, will host all the three matches, which will start under lights at 8pm local time (12:30am AEST the following day), perfect timing for the viewers at both Dhaka and Kabul. The first match will start tonight, 3 June (4 June AEST).

The Afghans, who are the official home team here, are likely to get all the crowd support. It’s not only because of the popularity of Rashid and Mujeeb; it has more to do with the long history of Afghan connection at Dehradun.

The connection started back in the middle of the 19th century when Dost Mohammad, the famous emir of Afghanistan, spent six years of his exiled life at the Doon Valley.

His grandson, Yaqub Khan, followed his forefather’s trend and chose Dehradun as his home in exile – in fact his family became settled there. Nadir Shah, a king of Afghanistan was born at Dehradun, and Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan, during his stay at Delhi once expressed his wish to meet his cousins at the Doon Valley.

So the Afghan connection with the city is quite strong, and the local support should go for them.

Prediction
I expect a keenly contested series with the Tigers wining 2-1, but a lot will depend on how the top order handles the bowling of a certain Rashid Khan.