🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 52: AFG vs BAN @6 AM IST🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: S8 - Match 52: Afganistan vs Bangladesh,  Kingstown🏏

Afghanistan will face Bangladesh on June 24 in their ever-crucial Super 8 clash in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will see them fight for a historic qualification to their first-ever semi-final spot in the competition. After having beaten heavyweights and probable favourites of the tournament, Australia, for the first-ever time in T20Is on June 23, the Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan will head to the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, Saint Vincent, with immense confidence. On the other hand, Najmul Shanto's Bangladesh will hold very little incentive for the clash, and will require a big miracle to go through to the semi-final from the last spot in their Group 1. 

Afghanistan beat Australia by 21 runs, which also happened to be their maiden victory over the 2023 ODI World Cup winners at the international level after 4 ODIs and 2 T20Is. After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan scored 148 for 6 on the back of half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Thereafter, they bowled Australia out for 127 in 19.2 overs, spearheaded by Gulbadin Naib's 4/20 and Naveen-ul-Haq's 3/20 spells. This massive win will see Rashid's side go all-out for a win against a pretty toothless Bangladesh, while also keeping an eye on the result of India's clash against Australia on June 24.

Form guide

Bangladesh LLWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

Afghanistan WLLWW

In the spotlight - Gulbadin Naib and Shakib Al Hasan

Gulbadin Naib was the eighth bowler against Australia, but he ended up taking his maiden four-wicket haul in T20Is in that game. He has been around for 12 years now and only recently made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals. Needless to say, he is high on confidence.

By his standards, this year's T20 World Cup has mostly been a forgettable one for Shakib Al Hasan. He has scored one half-century, while it took him four matches to get his first wicket. Shakib became the first bowler in the tournament's history to reach 50 wickets, but has only taken three at an average of 37 in this edition. He hasn't batted high enough and Shakib's bowling too hasn't been properly utilised. Could this be Shakib's swansong in the T20 World Cup?

Team news - Bangladesh might bring Taskin or Shoriful back

Bangladesh could go back to Taskin Ahmed or Shoriful Islam to replace Jaker Ali. Afghanistan are likely to go in unchanged at the same venue where they beat Australia.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hosain Shanto (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Jaker Ali/Taskin Ahmed/Shoriful Islam, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Mahedi Hasan, 10 Tanzim Hasan, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Azmatullah Omarzai, 4 Karim Janat, 5 Rashid Khan (capt), 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Gulbadin Naib, 8 Nangeyalia Kharote, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

Pitch and conditions

Teams batting first have won every game in Arnos Vale, including Bangladesh defending 106 against Nepal. Afghanistan will also have a fair measure of the pitches after their 21-run win against Australia. Weather, however, may not be great as there's some rain forecast.

Stats that matter

• Naib became the first bowler in the T20 World Cup to take a four-wicket haul after coming into the attack as the eighth bowler
• Gurbaz and Ibrahim now have three century opening stands in the T20 World Cup, the most by a pair
• Tanzim Hasan and Rishad Hossainhave 11 wickets apiece, equalling Shakib's tally from 2021 for the most wickets in an edition for Bangladesh

Probable Best Performers of the match 

Probable Best Batter: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter has been in stupendous form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He is the highest run-getter so far, having amassed 238 runs from six matches at an average of 39.67 and a strike rate of 141.67. If Gurbaz gets going and forms a partnership with Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan become way more dangerous than they already are.

Probable Best Bowler: Fazalhaq Farooqi

The left-arm pacer is leading the charts for wicket-takers in the showpiece event. In six matches, he has taken 15 wickets at an average of 8.93. The Bangladesh openers have struggled so far in the tournament and they will have their task cut out against the in-form Afghan seamer.

Today's Match Prediction: Afghanistan to win the match

Scenario 1

Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat first

Pp Score: 35-45

AFG: 150-160

Afghanistan win the match

Scenario 2

Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bat first

Pp Score: 30-40

BAN: 130-140

Afghanistan win the match

Very interesting match 

AFG bowlers are doing their best 

Thank you Parm for the thread and for tagging me. 

It is one of the much awaited match, and very important match, every one is waiting to see the result of this match!!

AFG won the match and elected to bat first. 

Rashid Khan: We'd like to bat first. Looking at the conditions here, batting is the best option. This is a proud moment for us being here. We have got the best opportunity to be in the semifinal. We should make sure that we do our basics right and enjoy. Everyone is pumped up. That victory (against Australia) gave us so much energy. Focus is on this game. Same team.

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to bat

All the matches have been won by the team batting first at the Arnos Vale Ground in this competition. Will that trend continue? Win toss and bat first? Or will the weather forecast (which suggests some rain) force the captains to decide otherwise? We'll find out shortly. This should be an enthralling contest....