AFG vs BAN 1st ODI Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will play an ODI against each other after 13 months. [Source: @ACBofficials & @BCBtigers/X]

High on confidence after a historic series victory against South Africa at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in September, Afghanistan will now host Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series at the same venue. Set to begin tomorrow onward, this series will pave way for Afghanistan and Bangladesh to tour Zimbabwe and West Indies respectively later this year.

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Match Details & Live Streaming

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Afghanistan Making Higher Highs

Afghanistan, who started 2024 with a 0-3 whitewash in Sri Lanka, have won four out of their last five ODIs. Coincidentally, all these matches were played in Sharjah.

In a year where they almost defeated India in a T20I, qualified for ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals and won ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they are behaving like a stock which continues to make higher highs with no intentions of stopping for now.

Whether all these achievements are surprising for Afghanistan? Not at all. Taking their potential into consideration, it was always a matter of time for them to threaten oppositions. Having defeated already Bangladesh during the World Cup earlier this year, one finds no reason as to why they can’t beat them again in another format.

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Bangladesh To Play A Sharjah ODI After 29 Years

Even though Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in their only ODI series in 2024 thus far, their current white-ball form is nowhere near the Afghans. In addition to losing three out of their last five ODIs, they’ve also lost six T20Is in a row.

With a reluctant captain and without a legendary all-rounder, their attempt to win an ODI series against Afghanistan would be easier said than done. Set to play an ODI in the city after as many as 29 years, it is noteworthy that they are yet to register a win here despite five previous attempts. In fact, their three previous Sharjah T20Is (including the latest against Afghanistan a couple of years ago) also failed to fetch a single victory.

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI Pitch Report: Spinners Most Likely To Dominate

Having most recently hosted 11 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches, Sharjah stayed true to its spin-friendly nature. A similar trend was observed during the preceding Afghanistan-South Africa ODIs where five out of six innings totals were below the 175-run mark.

Therefore, considering the presence of ample spinners in both the squads, expect them to be calling the shots throughout the series. As a result, only batters who apply themselves in the middle with utmost sincerity and skill will be able to dictate terms.

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Key Players & Stats

Mushfiqur Rahim (459 runs including four half-centuries) is the highest run-scorer in Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODIs

Mohammad Nabi is the highest run-scorer (575 runs including two half-centuries) and wicket-taker (36 at an average of 23.25) among Afghanistan and Bangladesh players in Sharjah ODIs

Bangladesh have won the last three ODIs against Afghanistan

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AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Probable Playing XIs

Afghanistan’s Probable Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil/Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad

Bangladesh’s Probable Playing XI: Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towrid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

AFG vs BAN 1st ODI: Winner Prediction

Irrespective of their inferior head-to-head record in this rivalry, one expects Afghanistan to win the first ODI on Wednesday.

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