BAN vs AFG 1st ODI: Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
![Bangladesh and Afghanistan will meet each other at Sharjah Cricket Stadium [Source: @ArianaNews_/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1730793335164_1730784587360_AFG_Vs_BAN.jpg?im=Resize=(650,450))
Bangladesh and Afghanistan will meet each other at Sharjah Cricket Stadium [Source: @ArianaNews_/X.com]
The stage is set as Bangladesh and Afghanistan lock horns with one another in the first ODI at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on November 6 from 3 PM onwards.
Bangladesh holds a solid 7-3 head-to-head record against Afghanistan and is going into this series a more dominant team. However, if there's one thing that recent times have shown, it is that Afghanistan cannot and should not be considered, especially when it comes to defeating teams that hold the upper hand.
Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, comes from a recent 2-1 ODI series win against South Africa and hopes to continue its momentum against the Bangla Tigers. On the other hand, Bangladesh were recently whitewashed in the multi-format series by India and would pray to the cricket gods to turn their fortunes around.
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As the two prepare to meet each other, let's take a look at the ground stats, pitch report and players to watch out for in the upcoming game:
Sharjah Cricket Stadium ODI Ground Stats
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 252 |
| Matches won batting first | 133 |
| Matches won batting second | 117 |
| Average 1st innings score | 223 |
| Highest Team Innings | 364/7 (Pakistan) vs New Zealand |
| Average Runs Per Over | 4.59 |
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has hosted 252 ODI matches, with teams batting first winning 133 times and those batting second winning 117 times. The average first-innings score at the ground is 223 runs, with Pakistan's 364/7 against New Zealand being the highest team total. The average runs per over at the venue stands at 4.59.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium: Batters Or Bowlers, Who Will Be More Successful?
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is traditionally a very dry pitch. It will offer very little seam movement to the fast bowlers but the breeze might help the new ball bowlers early in the game. Spinners will have a good time during the middle overs as they will get significant turn off the deck and would look to grab that opportunity.
In recent times, it has shown signs of helping batters however they must understand the ball's movement, if they hope to get a fair chance to build a strong score. Moreover, there is a strong chance that the team winning the toss will likely choose to bat first, as the stats reveal that the teams have won 136 ODIs by setting the target first.
Players To Watch Out For At Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Rashid Khan
- Returning to the field after not being in action regularly, Rashid Khan is expected to bring his A-game. With his excellence with both the bat and ball he would be a tough nut to crack in this clash.
Rishad Hossain
- This right-arm leg-break bowler has looked in good form having picked up 17 wickets from the last 10 games. He would definitely be an important player in the upcoming game.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Rahmanullah has been brilliant with the bat for his team. From 43 ODI games, he has accumulated 1661 runs. His ability to dictate the course of the game will prove beneficial when Afghanistan meets Bangladesh.
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