Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Prediction: Bangladesh has a slight edge over Afghanistan in the head-to-head fixtures

Bangladesh and Afghanistan are going head to head in the 3rd game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala, Kangra, India on 7th October. Bangladesh has a slight edge over Afghanistan in the head-to-head fixtures. Who will win this game?

In recent years, Bangladesh has significantly strengthened its position in white-ball cricket, boasting an impressive 70% win rate between 2020 and 2022. However, their performance has seen a slight decline in recent months.

Their journey in the recent Asia Cup was cut short as they were eliminated during the Super Four stage, and they also faced a 2-0 defeat against New Zealand in the lead-up to the current event. Nevertheless, their victory against India in the Asia Cup serves as a reminder that the Tigers remain a formidable team not to be underestimated.

Bangladesh possesses a formidable batting lineup, which they will rely on to perform against Afghanistan's spin-heavy bowling attack. Key to their batting will be Najmul Hossain Shanto, who displayed exceptional form during the Asia Cup, partnering with Litton Das as the opening pair.

Towhid Hridoy has emerged as a dependable middle-order batsman, while the experience of Mushfiqur Rahim further strengthens the lower order. In addition to their batting prowess, Bangladesh boasts two exceptional all-rounders in Shakib Al-Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, both of whom can make significant contributions across all aspects of the game.

In the spin department, they are likely to be complemented by Mahmudullah. With the ball, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed have been in fine form and will join forces with Mustafizur Rahman in the seam department. Hasan Mahmud may also secure a spot in the team as the fourth seamer.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan/Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan's track record in the World Cup has been less than perfect, having secured just one win out of 15 matches in their two previous appearances. In the last edition, they came agonizingly close to defeating teams like India and Pakistan, but their lack of experience on the grand stage made them susceptible to pressure.

However, the Afghan players have gained valuable exposure by participating in various T20 leagues worldwide, which could work to their advantage. One of Afghanistan's most notable strengths lies in their array of spin bowling options.

The talismanic Rashid Khan will play a pivotal role as the team's primary bowler in this match. Khan has consistently delivered exceptional performances in the IPL and possesses a strong understanding of Indian conditions. He will be joined in the spin department by Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Historically, batting has been a weak point for Afghanistan, but their opening duo of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz has displayed promising form in recent months and aims to provide the team with a solid start. Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Najibullah Zadran will bolster the middle order, even though their form has been somewhat inconsistent.

Afghanistan's fast bowling department presents another challenge as they lack experienced pace bowlers. Fazalhaq Farooqi, with 27 ODIs under his belt, is the most seasoned campaigner, while Abdul Rahman and Naveen Ul-Haq will provide support in this area.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

The HPCA ground has favored teams batting second, with a 60% win rate for the chasing side in 3 out of the 4 ODIs played here. Consequently, we anticipate that the toss-winning captain will likely opt to field first. The Dharamsala pitch isn't particularly batsman-friendly, with an average first-inning score of around 210. Early in the match, seamers can expect assistance, including some swing. However, once the batsmen settle in, they should be able to play their natural game.

As the game progresses, the spinners will find turn as the pitch starts to roughen up. The weather is expected to be clear with abundant sunshine and a maximum temperature of 26 degrees. Both teams enter this tournament as underdogs, and we can anticipate a closely contested match. However, we believe that Bangladesh holds the edge here due to their more well-rounded team. Afghanistan may struggle in terms of pace and middle-order batting, which could be a vulnerability.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has most of its bases covered, and the dynamic leadership of Shakib is a significant asset. Our prediction is for Bangladesh to emerge victorious.