Time: March 3, 2:30 PM IST
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
Pitch Report
Bangladesh haven’t been producing turning wickets of late. The spinners didn’t get enough purchase and it turned against Afghanistan in the ODIs. Expect a similar surface for the T20Is.
Teams
Probable XI for Bangladesh: Litton Das, Munim Shahriar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah (c), Yasir Ali, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Probable XI for Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Ahmed
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Liton Das was adjudged the Player of the Series in the ODIs for his 223 runs at 74.3. He, however, has an ordinary record against Bangladesh in T20Is, managing a mere 47 runs at 94 in 5 games.
Rashid Khan averages 8.2 against Bangladesh, pocketing 12 wickets in a mere 5 T20Is. He was brilliant in the ODIs with both bat and ball, taking 5 wickets and scoring a brisk innings of 29 runs.
Mohammad Nabi has scored 125 runs with a strike rate of 31 – the most for Afghanistan against Bangladesh. Although he blew hot and cold in the ODIs, he still remains a favourite pick in fantasy sports.
Shakib Al Hasan is the only Bangladeshi to score a fifty against Afghanistan in the format. In the ODIs, although he could not build on his starts with the bat, he consistently picked wickets and maintained an economy of under 6 RPO.
Najibullah Zadran did not fail in the ODIs. His scores read 67, 54, and 1*.
Smart Picks
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s hundred in the final ODI earlier this week must have boosted his confidence. In addition, he batted at a terrific strike rate of 181 in the Pakistan T20 League.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, the highest wicket-taker in the ODI series, will be a hot pick in the T20Is. He is likely to bowl in the powerplay as well as at the death – the time when most wickets fall.
Mahmudullah has scored the bulk of the runs for Bangladesh against Afghanistan, scoring 138 runs at 27. He helped fantasy players pick handy points with both bat and ball in the ODIs.
Hazratullah Zazai had a good time in the Pakistan T20 League, scoring 170 runs in 7 games with a strike rate of 125. Not to forget that he has the highest score of 162* off 62 in T20Is.
Mustafizur Rahman hasn’t been striking as he once used to. Since the start of the T20 World Cup, he has taken 4 wickets in 6 games. Facing his off-cutters, nonetheless, is an uphill task.
Match Preview
Afghanistan are ahead in the head-to-head race, winning 4 of 6 T20Is against Bangladesh. However, given their show in the ODIs, they will have to perform well out of their skin to emerge victorious.
Pick teams of your choice and play fantasy cricket now!