Deadline: September 5, 2019 at 9:30 AM IST
Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram
Pitch and conditions
The curators at Chattogram often make a pitch that best suits the hosts, providing turn and bounce. Add as many spinners in your fantasy team as you can.
Captains will look to bat first, for batting on a day-five wicket in the subcontinent is a nightmare.
Weather report
Rain is likely to play spoilsport on all five days, making it a stop-start contest.
Teams
Shadnam Islam is likely to open in the innings with Soumya Sarkar in the absence of the injured Tamim Iqbal.
Given the nature of the track, Bangladesh won’t hesitate to play a four-man spin attack in Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, and Nayeen Hasan.
Probable XI for Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mahmudullah, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed
Afghanistan’s openers may be thin on experience but are studded with talent. They, however, have a solid middle-order that includes the tenacious Mohammad Nabi.
Afghanistan too have powered up their bowling with spin, including a chinaman bowler in Zahir Khan and leg-spinners in Rashid Khan and Qais Ahmed.
Probable XI for Afghanistan: Ihsanullah, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan (c), Yamin Ahmadzai, Qais Ahmed, Zahir Khan
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ names to get the data while making your fantasy team.
My 11: Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi (vc), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan, Rashid Khan, Zahir Khan, Taijul Islam
We have opted for as many as six spinners in the fantasy team. There will be some swing but not beyond the first session. The wickets in Bangladesh dry up quickly, gradually turning into a featherbed for spinners.
Match prediction
If you think Bangladesh have the clear edge, you got the match prediction right, especially given the fact that they managed to beat South Africa, Australia, and England at home since 2015. Afghanistan, on the other hand, were gifted the Test status only in 2018: they lost to India, the No. 1 side and won against Ireland, the No. 12 side. That being said, Afghanistan like to spring a surprise. You never know.
Battle to watch out for
Both teams will be led by world-class spinners. Shakib Al Hasan will call the shots for Bangladesh, while Afghanistan have named Rashid Khan their new captain.
Apart from their superior ability to trap the batsmen in spin, both share other similarities such as being quick in the field and rescuing their teams when in trouble. While Rashid has not yet shaped himself into a reliable batsman, we saw what Shakib did during the 2019 World Cup.
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket