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Litton Das in action (Source: AFP Photos)
As the Asia Cup 2025 is underway in Dubai, cricket fans across the world have witnessed a classic encounter between Bangladesh and Afghanistan as the thrills soared till the last ball. With a hard-fought battle, the Tigers registered a thrilling victory, and the Afghans faced a heartbreaking defeat.
Bangladesh’s lethal bowling set the tone, but their batting lineup struggled early in the match. After sealing the crucial win, skipper Litton Das admitted the batting struggles while praising his team’s fighting spirit.
Relief In Victory, But Batting Woes Still Linger
Starting the campaign with a thrilling victory, Bangladesh faced a heartbreaking defeat against Sri Lanka in their second match. Keeping the qualification scenario in mind, the clash against Afghanistan was crucial for the Tigers, and they registered a thrilling 8-run victory. Despite an average batting performance initially, Bangladeshi bowlers flipped the script with their exceptional bowling.
Even after the Tigers registered a crucial win, Bangladesh’s captain Litton Das highlighted the requirement of improving batting. While celebrating the victory, he pointed to the middle-over lapses that nearly cost them.
“Winning the game was a little bit of relief for us. We didn't bat well in the last 4-5 overs. We didn't bowl well in the middle overs. I know we had enough runs on the board because when I had a look at the wicket, I knew 160 would be a defendable score. But still I felt we were 15-20 runs short,” he said.
Hails Heroes With The Ball
Defending 154 runs, the Bangladeshi bowlers nailed the game with their dominance. While Mustafizur Rahman led the way with three wickets, Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain’s dominating performances shattered the Afghan batting order. After the match ended, skipper Litton Das showered praises on the entire bowling unit.
“The way our bowlers bowled was phenomenal, especially Nasum, he played after a long time. He was showing his skills, and Rishad too bowled well. The middle overs changed the game a little bit,” he said.
Over the years, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry entertained the cricket world, and their latest group-stage clash was no different. But when skipper Litton Das was asked if he’d cheer for their rivals in the next game, his witty reply left everyone in splits.
“I don't know. Let’s see (laughs),” he said.
After ending the group stage clashes, Bangladesh is standing in second position of the points table with four points, with two victories in three matches. As they eye a Super Four berth, the Tigers’ fate now hinges on how Sri Lanka and Afghanistan fare in their upcoming clashes.
