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2024 has been a year of giant strides for Afghanistan. From having made the semifinals of the T20 World Cup to clinching a historic first ODI series win over South Africa, they have struck the right notes to continue enhancing their reputation as a force to reckon with. This fact was further reiterated during the Afghanistan A team's triumph in the Emerging Asia Cup in October.
They will also be playing a two-Test series against Zimbabwe beginning Boxing Day but there's still plenty of time for that. Right now, the focus remains on the 50-over format as they 'host' Bangladesh for a three-match series in Sharjah - a venue that Afghanistan have become all too familiar with in recent times.
Considering that there is a Champions Trophy on the horizon, this is a crucial series as far as polishing out whatever flaws might remain in the side are concerned. A year ago, the Afghans called the shots at the World Cup in India and made a serious case for knockout qualification. While that wasn't to be, having only gotten better as an outfit, they will be determined to build upon their good work.
What worked against South Africa was the fact that their spinners, as has often been the norm, came to the party. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar cast himself as one for the future with Rashid Khan doing what he does best and Nangeyalia Kharote also making a splash. Noor Ahmad has earned a recall to the side and will be chomping at the bit to leave his own mark on this series, with the ever-reliable Mohammad Nabi always there to do his bit.
In Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan have a seamer who can rip top-orders to shreds in the powerplay. He will be a handful for sure considering Bangladesh's woes at the top of the order, while Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai are expected to complement him in that department.
That aside though, their batters truly stepped up and did what was required of them too against the Proteas. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the side's biggest match-winner while Omarzai has mastered the art of pacing an ODI innings. Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi form the rock of the batting lineup with the latter keen to get into the runs having missed out against South Africa. It is imperative he does as well with Ibrahim Zadran continuing to miss out as he recovers from an ankle surgery. Sediqullah Atal, who was in red hot form in the Emerging T20 Asia Cup, could be in line for a cap at some stage too.
Bangladesh's Test tour of Pakistan certainly seems a long time ago now, having suffered a whitewash in India and at home to the Proteas. In between, they also got drubbed 3-0 in a T20 series in India and while a change of format could bring about a change in fortune, they have a lot of questions to answer.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, after much speculation, has been named captain for this series and is desperately in need of a consistent run of scores with the bat. With Litton Das out with a fever and Shakib Al Hasan opting out of this series, the challenges are only mounting for the incumbent skipper to marshal his resources together.
Of course, there is experience to fall upon in the form of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim and Shanto will take heart from the fact that he was the Player of the Series the last time Bangladesh played an ODI rubber where they beat Sri Lanka 2-1 at home in March. Considering that it's been a good period of time since though, the visitors will have to hit the ground running immediately.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a massive cog in the side's wheels and it remains to be seen as to how he performs having been empowered with the additional responsibility of being the side's vice-captain. Tanzid Hasan has impressed in patches in this format and is expected to slot in at the top of the order alongside Soumya Sarkar, with the highly-rated Towhid Hridoy occupying a middle-order spot.
Bangladesh's best shot is certainly with the ball even as Hasan Mahmud is out with injury. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman lend experience with Shoriful Islam expected to provide inroads with the new ball. Rishad Hossain should don the role of the side's second spinner with his leggies bound to be a handful on a Sharjah deck that is expected to play on the slower side. How he bounces back from a hammering at the hands of India in the T20Is last month is something that will be of intrigue.
Nahid Rana and Nasum Ahmed have also been named in the side but their arrival in the UAE has been delayed owing to visa issues. It is unlikely that they feature in the XI tomorrow, leaving Bangladesh with just thirteen members in their squad at this point. Selection ought to be pretty straightforward but it'll all boil down to how they turn up with the bat. To be more specific, how they counter the spin threat that Afghanistan pose.
Hence, it's safe to say that Afghanistan begin this series as favorites. Gone are the days where their triumph is deemed an upset - at least in most cases - and as they enter on the back of a fabulous series against South Africa, they will be buoyed to continue that work.
Expect an interesting set of matches to unfold over the next few days!
Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Bangladesh Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam
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Sharjah Cricket Stadium
