Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Prediction: Bangladesh have slightly better record

Afghanistan and Bangladesh are going head to head in the Match 1 of One Day Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 6th November 2024. Bangladesh have slightly better record in recent games against Afghanistan. Who will win this game of cricket?

Afghanistan has played great cricket in the UAE due to which they have obtained three victories in their previous matches. They are looking for triumph over Bangladesh in this tournament. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is Afghanistan's biggest run-getter from a year ago, opening innings. He has hit 1079 runs so far with four hundred and fours half-centuries with respect to 28 innings. Due to the injury of Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hasan may get an opening opportunity along with him, where he has scored 165 runs in 7 ODIs. Sediqullah Atal, who lately was in good form, coming from the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20, is included in the squad. Rahmat Shah would be batting at number three after scoring 200 runs in 8 ODIs so far this year.

He would accommodate Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi with Azmatullah Omarzai, who averaged 68.40 this season for 342 runs in eight innings. Mohammad Nabi, at 39 years of age, scored 250 plus runs from No. 5 batting and took 17 wickets against Bangladesh in 16 games with the economy rate of both teams, making him the one to offer the lowest economy. Even at not his best, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi has marshalled 166 runs in 7 innings this year. Afghanistan will depend on the star bowler Rashid Khan, who has grabbed 7 wickets in the last two games, as the team has 19 wickets in 13 matches against Bangladesh.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, who leads the pace attack with Nangeyalia Kharote and Gulbadin Naib, has taken 10 wickets in 7 games this season.

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim will open the innings for Bangladesh in the absence of Litton Das. He will be joined by Soumya Sarkar. Tanzid's accumulation in 15 matches over a year is 263 runs on average 18.78. Sarkar, who did not feature in the last ODI match, carried his bat in the last match scoring 244 runs in his last 6 innings wherein he scored a century and a half-century. The captain will be Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has made 1155 runs in 30 games since 2023 with an average of 44.82 with three centuries and eight half-centuries.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will accompany Towhid Hridoy in the middle order. Since 2023, Hridoy has made 848 runs in 26 innings and achieved seven half-centuries. Rahim has passed 1000 runs with one more century in that period. The all-rounder Miraz is batting and picking wickets as well. In the last 25 innings, he has made 575 runs and taken 27 wickets at an economy of 5.26.

The Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Mustafizur Rahman will lead the bowling attack. Islam is Bangladesh's wicket-taker since 2023, with 37 wickets in 22 games at an economy rate of 5.48. Ahmed with 34 wickets in 20 innings at an economy rate of 4.86 is one to watch out for and has struck 20 wickets in 11 ODIs against Afghanistan. Mustafizur Rahman has the best economy against Bangladesh, taking 13 wickets in 11 matches.

Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Tawhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Vice Captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

Afghanistan kept the momentum going in the ODI series played so far in the UAE by a win against South Africa. Rashid Khan has turned out to be the game changer with 53 wickets in 21 matches for Afghanistan at an average of 13.30, which is impressive on the UAE pitches. Bangladesh is currently winning streak but Afghanistan are going to play their match on familiar grounds for them. Based on these grounds, we foresee that Afghanistan will win against Bangladesh.