On Saturday, October 7, the third match of the 2023 ODI World Cup will take place at the scenic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, led by Shakib Al Hasan.
Both clubs have recently demonstrated that they are capable of posing substantial threats to the more favored teams in sub-continental settings. Their most recent performances, meanwhile, have fallen short of the bar they have set for themselves. In a three-match ODI series in July, the Afghan team triumphed over the “Bangla Tigers” at home. Given that Bangladesh has established itself as a challenging team to defeat at home, particularly in the 50-over format, this is no little accomplishment. In the Asia Cup 2023, Shakib and company exacted retribution by defeating Afghanistan in a game they needed to win to advance to the Super Four stage.
Recently, Bangladesh has experienced turmoil, most of which has been caused by the rivalry between two of their best players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib. After a few weeks of switching teams, the talismanic all-rounder appears to have chosen his squad and will try to motivate his team to put on a memorable show in what may be his final appearance at the 50-over World Cup. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been in excellent form and has scored the most runs for Bangladesh in ODIs in 2023, will be crucial for Bangladesh. Shanto has scored 698 runs with an average of 49.85 in 14 innings. In this time, he has accumulated two century and five fiftys.
Shakib will need to play a significant role in the bowling department because of his extensive experience playing in Indian conditions. A stage like the World Cup may be appropriate for a champion player like Mustafiqur Rahman as he strives to reach his peak performance. The likes of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have also occasionally performed well and may be useful at locations like Dharamsala that cater to pacers. In fact, the former has taken the most wickets for Bangladesh with 21 from 11 games at an average of 16.85. In their first exhibition match, Bangladesh easily trounced Sri Lanka before falling to England.
After their incredible victory in Bangladesh, Afghanistan was unable to follow it up, losing 3-0 against Pakistan in a three-match ODI series and going winless in the 2023 Asia Cup. However, their resounding victory over Sri Lanka in the exhibition match must have been a big confidence booster.
The Afghan team’s initial pairing of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran has been effective. The former has scored the most runs for them in ODIs this year, totaling 478 in 11 innings at a 47.80 batting average. Fazhalhaq Farooqi, a left-arm bowler, is the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in ODIs in 2023 with 15 takedowns in 11 matches at an average of 31.80. His economy rate (6.05) has, however, been a bit higher than average. Rashid Khan will be the most crucial player for this side, regardless of the stats. He must improve both with the bat and the ball if Afghanistan wants to play in the ODI World Cup in 2023.
When it comes to spin bowling, both teams are well-armed. Since South Africa and Sri Lanka will play in another game later in the day, the match will begin early. The match would end before any dew could form thanks to the early start, which is good news for the spinners.
AFG vs. BAN Pitch and Condition
When the ball is fresh, the Dharamsala pitch is likely to favor pacers. Due to the early start, there may be some moisture below the surface. At first, the ball may halt a little bit on the hitters, but once it wears down, many runs can be available. However, in the limited-overs matches played here, chasing has shown to be challenging. The captain with the toss choice may choose to bat first.
Potential Lineups for Match Three of the ODI World Cup 2023 between BAN and AFG
Bangladesh
With a good combination of youth and experience on their side, Bangladesh now appears to be a lot more well-balanced team since Mahmudullah’s return. Recently, both Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed have performed admirably for them with the bat and the ball. They could have to let go of one of their seamers if they want to pick both of them on the side.
Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan/Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk),
Afghanistan
In the first game, the Afghans might not want to make too many changes to their starting lineup. Noor Ahmad, who has three ODI appearances under his belt and had a strong season in the Indian Premier League this year, may have to wait a little longer.
Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi are among the players who contributed to the victory.
AFG vs. BAN ODI head-to-head matches
| Matches Played | 15 |
| Bangladesh Won | 9 |
| Afghanistan Won | 6 |
| First Played | 1-Mar-14 |
| Last Played | 3-Sep-2023 |
AFG vs. BAN Broadcast information:
| Date | Saturday, October 7 |
| Timing | 10:30 AM (IST) |
| Live Streaming | Disney+ Hotstar app and website |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
India
