Bangladesh vs Afghanistan: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips and Pitch Report

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is underway and the third match of the tournament will see Bangladesh take on Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on October 7. This will be the second time that these two teams will face each other in a World Cup match. The first time was in 2015, when Bangladesh won by 105 runs.

Match Prediction

Bangladesh are ranked seventh in the ICC ODI rankings and have a decent record in the World Cup. They have reached the quarter-final twice, in 2015 and 2019. They have also beaten some of the top teams, such as India, South Africa and England, in the past editions. Bangladesh are known for their batting prowess and their spin bowling attack, led by Shakib Al Hasan, who is also their captain.

Afghanistan are ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings and have qualified for the World Cup through the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-23. They have played only two editions of the World Cup, in 2015 and 2019. They have won only one match out of 15, against Scotland in 2015. They have also lost by huge margins to some of the top teams, such as by 262 runs to Australia in 2019. Afghanistan are known for their fighting spirit and their spin bowling options, led by Rashid Khan, who is also their vice-captain.

The pitch at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is expected to be slow and low, favouring the spinners. The average first innings score at this venue in ODIs is 214. The weather forecast for October 7 is partly cloudy and cool, with no chances of rain. The team that wins the toss might opt to bat first and put up a competitive total on the board.

Considering the recent form, head-to-head record and team composition, Bangladesh have a clear edge over Afghanistan in this match. However, Afghanistan are not to be taken lightly, as they can spring some surprises with their determination and skill. It will be an interesting contest between a seasoned team and a debutant team, but Bangladesh might just win it comfortably in the end.

Dream11 Team

Here is our suggested Dream11 team for this match:

Wicketkeeper: Mushfiqur Rahim

Batsmen: Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi

All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mohammad Nabi (vc)

Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq

Fantasy Tips

– Shakib Al Hasan is our captain for this match. He is one of the best all-rounders in the world and the captain of Bangladesh. He has scored 6481 runs and taken 269 wickets in 212 ODI. He also scored a century against Zimbabwe in July. He will be eager to lead from the front and score runs and take wickets against Afghanistan.

– Mohammad Nabi is our vice-captain for this match. He is one of the most valuable players in the world and a match-winner for Afghanistan. He is a brilliant all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball. He has scored 2796 runs and taken 136 wickets in 131 ODIs. He also scored a half-century against Pakistan in August. He will be looking to make an impact in this match with his spin bowling and lower-order hitting.

– Mushfiqur Rahim is another wicketkeeper-batsman who can score big runs in the middle order for Bangladesh. He has scored 6323 runs in 227 ODIs at an average of 36.77 and a strike rate of

79.15. He also scored two half-centuries against Zimbabwe earlier this year. He will be keen to replicate his performance and give Bangladesh a solid platform.

– Rahmat Shah is one of the most consistent batsmen for Afghanistan and their number three. He has scored

2330 runs inb75 ODIs at an average of 32.22 and a strike rate of 71.02. He also scored two half-centuries against Ireland earlier this year. He will be looking to continue his run-scoring spree and anchor the Afghanistan innings.

– Mustafizur Rahman is one of the most promising fast bowlers for Bangladesh and their strike bowler. He has taken 122 wickets in 64 ODIs at an average of 23.21 and an economy rate of 5.22. He also took four wickets against Zimbabwe in July. He will be looking to bowl with pace and accuracy and trouble the Afghanistan batsmen with his variations.

– Rashid Khan is one of the most effective spinners for Afghanistan and their vice-captain. He has taken

140 wickets in 74 ODIs at an average of 18.58 and an economy rate of 4.16. He also took three wickets against Pakistan in August. He will be looking to provide some balance to the Afghanistan team with his bowling skills and lower-order hitting.

Pitch Report

Strengths and Weaknesses

Bangladesh have several strengths that could help them win this match, such as:

– Their batting depth and experience, led by Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das and Mahmudullah.

– Their spin bowling options, such as Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nasum Ahmed, who can exploit the slow conditions and keep the run-rate in check.

– Their confidence and ability to beat top teams, as they have shown in previous tournaments.

Bangladesh also have some weaknesses that could hamper their chances, such as:

– Their inconsistency and lack of confidence, as they have lost several matches recently, including to Afghanistan in a warm-up game.

– Their pace bowling vulnerability, as their fast bowlers have been expensive and ineffective, especially Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud.

– Their fielding lapses and fitness issues, as they have dropped catches and missed run-outs, which could prove costly in crucial moments.

Afghanistan have some strengths that could help them challenge Bangladesh, such as:

– Their fighting spirit and resilience, as they have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 10 years and have nothing to lose.

– Their spin bowling variety and discipline, led by Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq.

– Their lower-order hitting ability, as they have some players who can score quick runs at the end, such as Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.

Afghanistan also have some weaknesses that could hinder their chances, such as:

– Their lack of exposure and experience against top teams, as they have played only a few matches against full members in recent years.

– Their lack of depth and firepower in both batting and bowling departments, as they rely heavily on a few players to perform.

– Their lack of adaptability and flexibility to different conditions and situations, as they are used to playing mostly in Asia.

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