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The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 is heating up as Bangladesh and Afghanistan prepare to face off in the 9th Group B match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 16. Both teams have played one game each so far—Afghanistan started their campaign with a dominant win, while Bangladesh stumbled against Sri Lanka. With crucial points on the line, this contest could define the fate of Group B.
Afghanistan look to build on winning start
Afghanistan enter the contest high on confidence after a dominant performance in their opening game against Hong Kong, where they registered a resounding 94-run victory. Their batting clicked in unison, with top-order firepower setting the tone, while the bowlers ensured a comfortable finish. However, they will have to cope with the absence of Naveen-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Bangladesh seeking redemption
On the other hand, Bangladesh will look to bounce back after their disappointing start to the campaign. They fell short against Sri Lanka in their opener, failing to execute with both bat and ball. Their batting unit, led by the likes of Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy, will need to fire collectively to overcome a confident Afghan side. The bowling department, spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, will be under pressure to contain Afghanistan’s aggressive batters in the powerplay and death overs.
BAN vs AFG, Asia Cup 2025: Match Details
- Date and Time: September 16, 8:00 pm IST / 02:30 pm GMT / 06:30 pm local
- Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
BAN vs AFG, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is:
Matches Played: 12 | BAN won: 5 | AFG won: 7 | No results: 0
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Report:
The surface at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi usually provides an even contest between bat and ball. Early on, the track offers good bounce and pace, allowing batters to play their strokes with confidence. As the innings progress, though, the wicket tends to dry out and slow down, which brings spinners and change-of-pace bowlers into play during the middle phase. The ground’s sizeable boundaries, coupled with a slightly sluggish outfield, make clearing the ropes a tougher task. In night fixtures, the dew factor often comes into play, giving an advantage to the side batting second as the ball skids on. Traditionally, chasing has yielded better results here, prompting captains to prefer bowling first after winning the toss.
Also READ: Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out of Asia Cup 2025; replacement announced
Squads:
Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Saif Hassan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nurul Hasan, Shoriful Islam
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Abdullah Ahmadzai
BAN vs AFG, Today’s match prediction:
Case 1:
- Bangladesh wins the toss and bowls first
- Afghanistan powerplay score: 40-45
- Afghanistan overall score: 150-160
Case 2:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bowls first
- Bangladesh powerplay score: 45-55
- Bangladesh overall score: 160-170
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest
