Abu dhabi: Bangladesh is determined to reignite its Asia Cup campaign as they face Afghanistan in a pivotal encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium tomorrow. The match, scheduled to start at 8.30 PM Bangladesh Time, will be broadcast live on T Sports and Nagorik TV.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh started their campaign on a positive note with a seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong but faced a setback with a six-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in their second game. This upcoming match against Afghanistan is critical for Bangladesh, as only two teams from the group will advance to the Super 4 stage, and a win is essential to keep their hopes alive.
Afghanistan, having easily defeated Hong Kong by 94 runs, is in a favorable position. Even with a loss to Bangladesh, they will have another opportunity against Sri Lanka to secure a spot in the Super 4. A victory over Bangladesh would guarantee Afghanistan and Sri Lanka progression to the next round.
Bangladesh captain Liton Das expressed his commitment to making a strong return, emphasizing the importance of the match. “We are aware that it’s do or die (against Afghanistan). We’ll try to comeback strongly,” Liton stated.
Middle-order batter Jaker Ali Anik shared similar sentiments, highlighting their ambition to win the Asia Cup. “We have the mindset to win every match that we play in any place of the World. We will bring that approach in the next match too. There is no other way. We are not here to play matches only, we are here to become champions,” Jaker affirmed.
Despite their challenging T20 record against Afghanistan, with Bangladesh winning only five out of 12 encounters, the team remains hopeful. In Asia Cup history, Afghanistan leads with three wins out of five matches. However, Bangladesh is confident in their improvement, with recent series victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who was strategically left out of the last match, may return for this crucial game. Bangladesh’s squad includes key players like Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and Mustafizur Rahman, while Afghanistan will be led by Rashid Khan, featuring players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi.
As Bangladesh gears up for this must-win match, the team is focused on overcoming their past performances and proving their mettle on the Asia Cup stage.