BD-Afghan crucial match today

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team will take on Afghanistan Cricket team in their crucial Group-B match of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Asia Cup at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan today.

The Day/ Night affairs will begin at 3.30pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).

Private satellite sports channel of Bangladesh T Sports, private satellite channel of Bangladesh GTV, International Sports channel Star Sports will telecast the match live.

Bangladesh made a sorrow start as they lost to hosts Sri Lanka by five wickets in their first Group-B match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on August 31.

If Bangladesh lose to Afghanistan in the today’s match, Bangladesh’s hope to qualify for the ‘Super Four’ becomes very slim.

On the other hand, if the today’s match washes out by rain and Afghanistan lose to Sri Lanka by a big margin in the next Group-B match, Bangladesh will qualify for the ‘ Super Four’.

If the today’s match washes out by rain and the next Group-B match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka washes out by rain, Afghanistan will qualify for ‘Super Four’.

Besides, if Afghanistan can win against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will take place in ‘Super Four’.

The ‘Super Four’ match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on September 5.

Bangladesh Cricket Squad and Afghanistan Cricket squad are now staying at Lahore in Pakistan.

India Cricket team won the Asia Cup title for highest times.

They clinched the Asia Cup trophy for seven times, while Sri Lanka attained the Asia Cup title for six times and Pakistan emerged the champions of the Asia Cup for two times.

Bangladesh became runners-up for three times in Asia Cup.

Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by a thrilling two-run defeat in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka of the Asia Cup 2012.

Thus, Bangladesh have to satisfied with the runners-up trophy in that meet.

On the other hand, Afghanistan could not reach in final of the Asia Cup.

Before today’s match, Bangladesh and Afghanistan faced each other in 14 ODI occasions.

Of them, Bangladesh registered eight victories, while Afghanistan won six matches.

Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Anamul Haque Bijoy.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.