A Star Is Born: Tanzid Hasan Defies Odds To Keep Bangladesh Alive In Asia Cup 2025

Tanzid Hasan had a memorable outing vs AFG [Source: AFP]

Bangladesh had a memorable outing in their final group-stage match of the Asia Cup 2025, defeating Afghanistan by eight runs and avoiding an early exit from the tournament. After posting a respectable 154-run total, Bangladesh reduced Afghanistan to 146 runs in 20 overs, securing a narrow victory in the do-or-die affair. 

Tanzid Hasan played a game-defining knock Vs AFG

Swashbuckling batter Tanzid Hasan played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's clinical victory against Afghanistan. Opening the batting for Bangladesh, Tanzid struck 52 runs off just 31 balls, propelling the Tigers to a defendable total at the end of 20 overs. 

Interestingly, Tanzid overcame past demons and took his game to a whole new level, ensuring his side's dominance through positive intent and aggression. As the young batter continues to grab the limelight, here we explain why his performance was against the odds and how it worked wonders for Bangladesh on Tuesday night. 

Tanzid Hasan’s past horrors and how he overcame it

Tanzid's past record vs left-arm pace and how he conquered it vs AFG

(Tanzid Hasan's T20I stats vs Left-arm pace before AFG match)

• Tanzid Hasan didn't have a great record against left-arm fast bowlers in T20 Internationals prior to the Afghanistan clash. As shown in the above table, the left-hander had scored only 87 runs in 86 balls, with the left-arm pacers dismissing him five times in the format. 
• So, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan's premier left-arm pacer, was an inevitable threat to him early in the innings. In fact, before this game, Farooqi had bowled one ball to Tanzid, dismissing him for a duck in T20Is. 
• However, Tanzid was able to dominate Farooqi when it mattered the most, scoring 18 runs off his seven deliveries at a blistering strike rate of 257.14 last night. Considering Farooqi was getting genuine movement in the air and could've been a game-changer in the powerplay, Tanzid being successful in unsettling him helped the Tigers avoid an early collapse in the do-or-die match. 

---

ALSO READ

Bangladesh's Underrated Power-Hitters Who Can Help Them Lift Maiden Asia Cup Trophy

---

Tanzid Hasan's exploits vs Ghazanfar and Nabi unsettled Afghanistan

After Tanzid Hasan's blitz forced Rashid Khan to remove Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghanistan captain brought in Allah Ghazanfar and Mohammad Nabi early into the attack. 

These two bowlers had troubled Tanzid Hasan in the past, as evidenced by the stats below. 

(Tanzid vs Nabi and Ghazanfar in international cricket before BAN vs AFG Asia Cup match)

So, considering Tanzid's struggles against these two bowlers in the past, it was a logical move from Rashid Khan to bring them when the southpaw was in full flow. However, Tanzid once again stepped up to the occasion, leaving the rampant spin duo stunned with his stroke play. 

(Tanzid vs Nabi and Ghazanfar in BAN vs AFG match)

• As mentioned above, Tanzid Hasan dominated Nabi and Ghazanfar in the must-win encounter, hammering 28 runs off their 13 deliveries. He played just two dots and smacked three sixes off the wily spinners, striking at a blistering rate of 215.4. 
• Thus, just like Farooqi, Tanzid's aggressive intent and attempt to take his nemeses paid rich dividends for him in this match. 

How Tanzid's Knock Was The Difference Between Bangladesh And Afghanistan

• As a result of Tanzid Hasan's batting heroics, Allah Ghazanfar and Mohammad Nabi couldn't complete their quota, conceding 49 runs in five overs combined. 
• Before getting dismissed, Tanzid Hasan hammered 52 runs off just 31 balls, powering Bangladesh to 104 runs at the end of 12.5 overs. While he struck at a blistering rate of 167.74, the Tigers could score only 50 runs in 43 deliveries at a mediocre rate of 116.27 after his departure. 
• More importantly, batters from both teams, apart from Tanzid, registered a combined strike rate of 115.71, showing how he performed much better than his teammates as well as the opponents. 
• His aggression at the top was the primary reason why Bangladesh could breach the 150-run mark despite the other batters not living up to the expectations. They eventually won the game by eight runs and avoided a group-stage elimination, which wouldn’t have been possible without Tanzid’s batting heroics. 

---

ALSO READ

Bangladesh Keep Super 4 Hopes Alive As Rashid's Afghanistan Choke In Abu Dhabi

---