Afghanistan and Bangladesh gear up for their first ODI in a three-match series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Here’s a preview of Afghanistan vs Bangladesh.

Match Details

• Match: 1st ODI of the Afghanistan and Bangladesh in UAE, 3-ODI Series, 2024
• Date & Time: Wednesday, 6th November, 15:30 Local Time
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Pitch Report

Sharjah Cricket Stadium has historically been a balanced venue, but recent trends show that it favors bowlers, especially spinners, due to its low bounce and slow turn. The average score here in ODIs over the last 10 matches is around 229. Teams batting first have a slight advantage, with the average first innings score at 228 compared to 168 in the second innings. The highest score recorded in recent matches was 311/4 by Afghanistan against South Africa in September 2024. Successful run chases above 240 have been rare, with the highest being 206/3 by UAE against the West Indies in June 2023. Expect a challenging batting environment, especially in the second innings.

Head to Head

• Total Matches Played: 16
• Bangladesh Wins: 10
• Afghanistan Wins: 6
• Win Percentage: Bangladesh 62.5%, Afghanistan 37.5%

Last 5 Meetings

1. Bangladesh won by 6 wickets (92 balls remaining) – 7th October 2023
2. Bangladesh won by 89 runs – 3rd September 2023
3. Bangladesh won by 7 wickets (159 balls remaining) – 11th July 2023
4. Afghanistan won by 142 runs – 8th July 2023
5. Afghanistan won by 17 runs (DLS method) – 5th July 2023

Bangladesh has dominated recent encounters, winning three of the last five matches. Afghanistan, however, showed strong performances in the two preceding games, winning decisively.

Form Guide

Afghanistan: A, W, W, W, L
Bangladesh: L, W, W, L, W

Squads

Afghanistan

• Batters: Abdul Malik, Darwish Rasooli, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal
• All-Rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi
• Wicketkeepers: Ikram Alikhil, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• Bowlers: AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan

Bangladesh

• Batters: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar
• All-Rounders: Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed
• Wicketkeepers: Jaker Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Zakir Hasan
• Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam

Key Players

Afghanistan

• Mohammad Nabi: Known for his experience and all-round capabilities, Nabi has scored 268 runs and taken 17 wickets in previous encounters with Bangladesh. His skill against spin will be vital on this pitch.
• Rashid Khan: A world-class spinner, Rashid’s ability to contain runs and take wickets will be crucial on the slow Sharjah pitch.

Bangladesh

• Mehidy Hasan Miraz: In top form, Mehidy is a leading all-rounder for Bangladesh with 295 runs and 10 wickets against Afghanistan. His ability to score under pressure and contain with spin makes him key.
• Najmul Hossain Shanto: As captain, Shanto will be central to Bangladesh’s batting. His leadership and ability to stabilize the innings will be crucial.

Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Prediction

Considering the recent head-to-head advantage and experience of playing in spin-friendly conditions, Bangladesh has a slight edge going into this match. However, Afghanistan’s strong spin attack and recent success on this ground give them a chance, especially if they bat first.

Predicted Winner: Afghanistan (in a closely contested game)

Where to Watch Afghanistan vs Bangladesh

Fans in India can catch the live streaming of the Afghanistan vs Bangladesh ODI 2024 series exclusively on the FanCode app and website. The matches won’t be broadcast on any TV channel in India, so digital streaming is the go-to option for following this exciting series live.

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