Time: Feb 25, 10:30 AM IST
Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram
Pitch Report
The pitch is likely to remain as slow as it was in the opening game. Scoring runs will take some patience and resilience.
Teams
Probable XI for Bangladesh: Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Probable XI for Pakistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Fazalhaq Farooqi ran through Bangladesh’s top-order, taking 4 wickets in 18 balls. It was only his second ODI and eighth List A game. His ability to swing the ball both ways fetched him two LBWs.
Mehidy Hasan won the Player of the Match award for his economical spell and a stunning innings of 81* off 120 in an improbable chase. To add fuel to the fire, he ranks No. 5 in ICC Rankings for all-rounders, even ahead of Shakib Al Hasan. However, he is yet to take a wicket against Afghanistan in 4 ODIs.
Shakib Al Hasan has incredible numbers in the format against Afghanistan, picking 20 wickets at 16.3. He continued the momentum on Wednesday, finishing with 2 for 50.
The format suits Afif Hossain’s style of play. He is careful with his stroke play, dealing more in fours than sixes. His 93* off 115 was evidence of the very fact, combining running between the wickets and putting the bad balls away effectively.
Smart Picks
Taskin Ahmed has taken two two-wicket and one four-wicket haul against Afghanistan, never going wicketless. He took the all-important wickets of Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi.
It was Najibullah Zadran’s 67 off 84 that kept Afghanistan’s innings together. On a sluggish wicket and a quality spin attack, it was an innings of substance. Before this knock, he had scored a stunning 71 off 59 against the Netherlands last month.
Between these teams, only Tamim Iqbal has managed to score a hundred. He averages 47 against Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan gave his all to strike more than once. Bangladesh, in fact, were careful against him, not minding to play dot balls. With the series being scheduled to play on the same slow wicket, he is likely to be in the thick of things.
Mohammad Nabi may have been ineffective in the first ODI, but he has excellent numbers against Bangladesh: he has taken 12 wickets and scored 254 runs at 36.
Match Preview
Bangladesh pulled off an improbable chase, while Afghanistan threw away a certain victory. Bangladesh bowled better and Afghanistan batted better as a cohesive unit. Both teams have chinks in their armours to take care of.
