AFG vs BAN (Source: @ACBofficials, @BCBtigers/X.com)
It's time for another cracker of a contest, as Afghanistan and Bangladesh will play the final and the third T20I of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Sunday, October 5, 2025. This exciting encounter will be played from 8:00 PM IST, where Afghanistan will look to take revenge.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan have been struggling in the series with two losses in two games, having already lost the series to Bangladesh. Losing the first game by four wickets and the second by two wickets, they have been unable to defend the target in the slow and low conditions in Sharjah. Death-over bowling has been a problem for them, where runs have leaked in the last few overs, as batters have taken advantage. With the series already lost, they have nothing to lose and will therefore play with a free mind to salvage their pride.
Bangladesh
The Bangladesh side, on the other hand, have been clinical, both with bat and ball in hand, as they have demonstrated pure class and tactical acumen. From death-over-hitting to bowling masterclass, they have improved by leaps and bounds in the past few years, and that has been showcased in this series with proper performances in all three departments; hence, they will be coming out all guns blazing, with a whitewash on their minds.
AFG vs BAN head to head overview
Both sides, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have faced each other on 15 occasions, with Afghanistan winning seven times, while Bangladesh have eight victories in those 15 matches. None of the games have ended without a result, as Afghanistan, who were leading before the beginning of the series, have lost the advantage after losing both their games.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch report
Known for its slow surface, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah has smaller boundaries, where plenty of runs can be scored only if the pitch is conducive to batting. However, that hasn't been the case here lately, where spinners have had the majority of the advantage, as batters have struggled to put runs on the board. Both the games in this series have been won by the side chasing the target. Hence, the captain winning the toss in this encounter might look to bowl first, as chasing will be preferred at this venue.
Afghanistan and Bangladesh probable playing XI
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Darwish Rasooli, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Abdullah Ahmadzai, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Bangladesh
Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Jaker Ali (c & wk), Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed
Top run-scorers in AFG vs BAN
We are considering only the players from the current squad.
Mohammad Nabi - 293 runs
Mohammad Nabi has been one of the finest performers and the torchbearer for Afghanistan cricket since their early days, as he has managed to strike 293 runs, the highest for Afghanistan against Bangladesh in 15 games, where he has averaged 29.30 while maintaining a strike rate of 123.10, with two half-centuries.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz - 215 runs
Rahmanullah Gurbaz holds the second spot for being the second-highest run scorer in Afghanistan vs Bangladesh T20Is, where he has struck 215 runs in 11 games while averaging 19.54, as his runs have come at a strike rate of 103.36, while also smashing 12 maximums against the Tigers. Gurbaz has been one of the most aggressive performers, consistently finding runs.
Azmatullah Omarzai - 155 runs
Azmatullah Omarzai has displayed his proper class against Bangladesh with 155 runs in nine games, at an average of 25.83 while striking at 129.16, where he has hit 11 sixes. He has made a difference for his nation against the Bangladesh side.
Top wicket-takers in AFG vs BAN
We are considering only the players present in the current squad.
Rashid Khan - 30 wickets
The spin magician Rashid Khan has been tremendous for Afghanistan against Bangladesh, especially as he has picked up 30 scalps in just 14 matches, averaging 10.16 while conceding runs at a miserly economy rate of 5.64.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman - 14 wickets
Mujeeb Ur Rahman has impressed one and all with his control over his spinning deliveries, considering he has picked up 14 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 14.42, while his economy rate is the best of the lot at 5.17.
Azmatullah Omarzai - 13 wickets
Azmatullah Omarzai bowled a crucial spell in the last game, where he took four wickets, and his total tally against Bangladesh stands at 13 wickets in 9 matches, with an average of 14.23, and an economy rate of just 7.76.
AFG vs BAN key stats
Afghanistan's key records
- Afghanistan have won 20 out of their 32 matches played at Sharjah, which is a win percentage of 62.5%.
- Mohammad Nabi has played 31 of Afghanistan's 32 matches at Sharjah, where he has thumped 550 runs and picked 20 wickets.
- Rashid Khan is the highest wicket-taker in Sharjah for Afghanistan, having taken 42 scalps in just 20 games, with an average of 10.85.
- Sediqullah Atal has banged the most 10 sixes for Afghanistan this year, where he has managed 187 runs in just six innings.
- This year, Rashid Khan has the highest strike rate for Afghanistan with the bat, striking at 153.33 in 7 innings.
- Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal have the highest partnership runs together this year for Afghanistan, with 307 runs coming in just seven innings.
- Ibrahim Zadran has had troublesome outings against Bangladesh spinners, scoring only 36 runs in 73 balls and being dismissed five times out of seven.
Bangladesh’s key records
- Bangladesh's record at Sharjah isn't great, with three wins and five losses in 8 games.
- Tanzid Hasan's numbers have been magnificent in 2025, with 513 runs at a strike rate of 137.16, where he averages 28.50 with five half-centuries.
- Rishad Hossain is the best performer with the ball for Bangladesh in Sharjah with 7 wickets in 4 games, averaging just 19.71.
- Nasum Ahmed has been the most destructive bowler for Bangladesh against Afghanistan, with 10 wickets in 7 games.
- Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan duo have been one of the most profitable partnerships for Bangladesh, with 456 runs coming in just 17 innings.
- Nurul Hasan has the highest strike rate of 144.44 for Bangladesh in 2025, with 104 runs coming in just five games (min. 50 runs).
- Nurul Hasan has struck 32 runs in just 14 balls vs Afghanistan pacers, where he has batted in just three innings at a strike rate of 228.6.
Records which could be broken in AFG vs BAN 3rd T20I
- Tanzid Hasan needs one half-century to overtake Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal with the third-most half-centuries for Bangladesh in T20Is, currently having 8 fifties.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz requires 92 runs to complete 2000 runs in T20I cricket.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz needs to enforce 2 dismissals to achieve the landmark of 50 dismissals in T20Is for Afghanistan.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman is 1 wicket away from becoming the third-highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in T20Is. Currently, he is tied with Naveen-ul-Haq for the joint third-highest spot with 67 wickets.
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