🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: AFG vs BAN, 9th Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi🏏

🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 9th Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi on 16/09/2025 at 8:00 PM IST🏏

Bangladesh in need of a handout against buoyant Afghanistan

Afghanistan were all systems go in their opener against Hong Kong, and could go clear at the top with another win on Tuesday

After the net run-rate-boosting win over Hong Kong on the first day of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan have the chance to go clear at the top of Group B on Tuesday. Bangladesh are up next, fresh from the hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka. Afghanistan are the more confident of the two sides, which gives them the advantage before the start of the game.

Azmatullah Omarzai's record-breaking half-century from No. 6 led them in their 94-run win against Hong Kong. He added 82 runs for the fifth wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who ended unbeaten on 73. Afghanistan's bowling was true to their reputation, hardly allowing the hapless Hong Kong batters a whiff.

Afghanistan get their win but Trott wants improvement

Rashid Khan must have also been pleased with AM Ghazanfar and Noor Ahmad now taking more responsibility. Mohammad Nabi didn't bowl against Hong Kong, but is likely to be back in the attack against Bangladesh, who have to take on an irrepressible spin attack, a particularly hard task given their own frailties and the conditions in the Emirates.

Teams watch:

Bangladesh: Taskin Ahmed was left out for Shoriful Islam for the previous game and the former is likely to get back in for this match. Towhid Hridoy is likely to be replaced by Saif Hassan or Nurul Hasan while Nasum Ahmed could come in for Rishad Hossain.

Injuries/unavailability: Bangladesh don't have any injury concerns to report at the moment.

Tactics & matchups: Taskin is a good match-up option against Gurbaz, having dismissed him twice in three matches while Mustafizur Rahman has a good record against Omarzai, with three dismissals in four innings.

Probable XI: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (c & wk), Saif Hassan/Nurul Hasan, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan's team are likely to field the same eleven that won them the opening game.

Injuries/unavailability: Naveen Ul Haq, who missed the opening game, has been ruled out of the remainder of the competition due to a shoulder injury. He has been replaced by Abdullah Ahmadzai who was previously in the reserves.

Tactics & matchups: Omarzai has had success against Litton, having bagged his wicket twice in four innings. Meanwhile, the majority of the Bangladesh batters in the current squad have struggled against wrist spin, bringing Rashid and Noor Ahmad into play.

Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi

In the spotlight: Azmatullah Omarzai and Shamim Hossain

Azmatullah Omarzai is emerging as Afghanistan's top pace-bowling-allrounder, who can bowl in pressure situations and bat effectively in the top six. His half-century against Hong Kong was Afghanistan's fastest in the format. Omarzai struck five sixes and two fours in his 21-ball 53. He is more than useful with the ball too, often helping Afghanistan break partnerships. He would, however, like to improve his T20I batting record against Bangladesh, having scored just 88 runs in six outings so far.

Shamim Hossain dug Bangladesh out of a hole against Sri Lanka, but his unbeaten 42 - and Jaker Ali's unbeaten 41 - couldn't quite get them to a winning position. Shamim and Jaker added 86 for the sixth wicket, both doing the sort of fire-fighting job they are asked to do often. The good part about Shamim's innings was that he took the attack to the Sri Lanka bowlers at the end of the innings, something that should give him confidence against Afghanistan.

Did you know?

- Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who finished as the leading run-getter in 2024 T20 World Cup, has struggled since then, 2024 having scored 132 runs in nine innings at an average of 14.66 and a strike rate of 106.45, with a highest of 40.

- Rishad Hossain, the joint highest wicket-taker among spinners in the T20 World Cup, has also not had a great time since then. He has picked up only 21 wickets in 20 T20Is, at an average of 27.80 with an economy of 9.07.

- In the T20Is post T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan have, by some distance, the lowest average (18.31), run rate (6.44), boundary percentage (12.34) and the second worst balls per dismissal (17) in the powerplay among full-member sides.

Pitch and conditions

Abu Dhabi has rewarded batters with intent in the Asia Cup so far, but the bowlers too have found help from the pitches. The forecast is for high temperatures.

BAN vs AFG Head to Head

Matches Played 12

Won By Bangladesh 5

Won By Afghanistan 07

Tied 00

First-Ever Fixture

March 16, 2014

Most-Recent Fixture June 25, 2024

BAN vs AFG Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter: Litton Das

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das could be the probable best batter in the upcoming game against Afghanistan. The wicketkeeper-batter had a great start to the Asia Cup as he smashed a match-winning 59 in their tournament opener against Hong Kong. In the team's second fixture against Sri Lanka, Das managed to add 28 runs to the tally. Currently, the highest run getter of the tournament, the Bangladesh skipper, will be looking to continue his form.

Probable Best Bowler: Azmatullah Omarzai

Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai could be the best bowler in his team's forthcoming game against Bangladesh. The right-arm pacer had a decent outing with the ball in the game against Hong Kong. In his quota of two overs, he scalped a wicket and conceded just four runs. Omarzai will play a crucial role in his team's next game.

Today's Match Prediction: Team bowling to win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

Thank you, Raji, for the thread and for tagging.

Best wishes to both the teams.

Both teams are equally talented , so expecting a highly competitive match today.

The Asia Cup 2025 heats up in Group B as Bangladesh take on Afghanistan in a high-stakes contest today. For Litton Das and his men, this fixture is nothing short of a knockout, with a loss ending their campaign prematurely.

Bangladesh started brightly with a convincing win over Hong Kong, but their campaign lost steam after a crushing defeat to Sri Lanka. Their batting fragility was once again exposed, with the top order collapsing before Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain stitched a fighting partnership to lend respectability to the score. The pressure now falls squarely on skipper Litton Das to provide solidity at the top, while the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy must find form quickly if Bangladesh are to survive.