AFG vs BAN ODIs Preview | Bangladesh seek to mend batting collapses in bid to avoid whitewash

‌Bangladesh will need to address their batting collapses on a war footing if they wish to escape whitewash at the hands of Afghanistan. After mediocre displays with the willow saw them lose the first two matches at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Tigers will have one last chance to put an improved show in the final ODI at the same venue on Tuesday.

In the first game, batting first, they were well-placed at 154/3 with more than 14 overs to play, but were reduced to 206/9 before being bowled out for 221. The script repeated in the second too, when they slid from 50/3 to 109 all out, while chasing a modest target of 191.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has been well-served by the skill and guile of Rashid Khan who picked up eight wickets, including a fifer, in two games. All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai has also chipped in with six wickets, while the batters have put a collective performance in both games. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah aced the chase in the first game with half-centuries, while Ibrahim Zadran single-handedly carried them to a respectable total in the second.

The Bangladesh bowlers, led by Tanzim Hasan Sakib have put in decent performances in both games but the sloppy showing from their batters meant they finished on the wrong side. The pacer has picked up five wickets from two games, while captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has four wickets. 

Form Guide

AFG Form: L W NR W W

BAN Form: L W L L L

AFG vs BAN head-to-head in ODIs

There is nothing much to separate both sides on head-to-head record with Bangladesh winning 11 matches and Afghanistan ending victorious on 10 occasions. However, recent record is well in favour of Afghanistan with the side winning four of their last five matches.

AFG 10 - 11 BAN

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the Zayed Cricket Stadium will most likely continue to be dry with the slower bowlers expected to have a huge say in the game. The captains will keep an eye on the conditions as well as evening dew may make batting easier under lights and spinners facing challenges in gripping the ball.   

It will be a clear and warm evening in Abu Dhabi with temperatures expected to be around 30 degrees at the start of the game before cooling down to 28 degrees at night. 

Team News

Afghanistan is expected to play the same side in a bid to push for a whitewash while Bangladesh may also back their batters to come good despite an ordinary showing in the previous games.

AFG Expected XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bashir Ahmad.

BAN Expected XI

Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan (wk), Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman 

Broadcasting Platforms 

The AFG vs BAN third ODI match will be digitally streamed on the FanCode app and website in India from 5:30 PM IST on Tuesday.