Bangladesh would need to come up with a much-improved batting display when they take on Afghanistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday.
Shakib-al Hasan’s men were ordinary with the bat in their tournament opener against Sri Lanka, managing just 164 after opting to bat. Barring Najmul Hossain Shanto, who played an 89-run innings, none of their batters, including skipper Shakib, could deliver.
Afghanistan have a good bowling attack and if the Bangladesh batters do not mend their ways, it might prove costly. The likes of Shakib and keeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who have bagfuls of experience, must show the way.
Afghanistan will rely heavily on the variety of their spin attack to unsettle Bangladesh.
Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a consistent wicket-taker for Afghanistan and can prove to be a lethal weapon. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan needs no introduction, while the young Noor Ahmed will be a handful if he can reproduce his IPL form.
Led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan will hope Rahmanullah Gurbaz can carry on with his great form. He hit centuries against both Pakistan and Bangladesh in the ODI series they played recently.
Bangladesh’s bowlers too need to be sharper. While Shakib and pacer Taskin Ahmed looked good against Sri Lanka, the same cannot be said about the others.
The likes of Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will have to step up.
With inputs from PTI
