Bangladesh after getting life from ICU through skills two young surgeons Afif and Mosaddek has to digest Afghan Kabuli Polau and delicious Kebab today to redeem.  We all hope that shell shocked Bangladesh team would have the stomach ready for that. Two matches of OBHAI T20 series have so far been played. Zimbabwe featured in both losing the matches in contrasting fashions. In the first match they almost but shocked Bangladesh. Only the flamboyance of two young tigers rookie Afif and Mosaddek let Bangladesh survive through the skin of the teeth. 

In the other match tweeting Afghans did not have a cake walk even after scoring heavily. We must not also take away credit from Zimbabweans appearing in this series defying many challenges. They did not die wondering.

Bangladesh meets higher ranked Afghanistan in T20 today to prove whether the life saving drugs injected in the first match have armed their muscles or not. Or whether inspiration of cricket enthusiast Prime Minsters encouragement and prayers give them wake up call or not?

Playing super athletes Afghans in the shortest format of cricket by a visibly low morale Bangladesh team is a steep challenge. These days Bangladesh facing Afghan road block too often as a matter of coincident.

Let us look at the squads.

Afghanistan squad:
 Rashid Khan, Hazrattullah Zazai, Najeeb Tarakai, Asghar Afghan, Nazibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Shafiqullah, Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmed, Fazal Nazai, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen UlHaq, Rahmatullah Gulbaz

Bangladesh squad: 
Shakib Al Hasan, Liton K Das, Soumya Sarkar, Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman,Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan,  Mohammad Saifuddin, Taijul Islam, Mustfizur Rahman, Abu Haidar Rony and Yasin Arafat 

One of the major differences between Bangladesh and Afghanistan now is the number quality players of two teams. In less than a decade despite of very restricted window of opportunity of playing war ravaged country Afghans can form  three different teams for three formats . Off course Rashid, Nabi, Asghar Afghan and Nazibullah Zadran are common.  

But unfortunately Bangladesh sticks to 8-9 players playing in all formats. Afghans are growing specialists whereas Bangladesh try to have masters of all trades. Bangladesh plays competitive cricket at international level for almost four decades while Afghans started playing serious cricket only about a decade or so.

The greatest threat for Bangladesh will Rashid Khan, Nabi and Mujeeb trio. The shallow morale Bangladesh top order needs leaders. Hope Mushfiq, Shakib and Mahmudullah would not remain shadow of their past . We must not expect that Afif, Mosaddeq or Saifuddin would play blinders and lead another rescue mission. If Liton, Soumya and Sabbir can not deliver they must be replaced. Hope Shakib would not carry out too much experiment. Hope Abu Haider Rony called at the last minute would play? We wonder why Taskin or Rahi were not considered. The fleet footed Afghans should be castled with pace and movement. Shakib must shoulder more responsibility for piloting his ship in troubled water. Mushfiq must hold the innings together. I do not think Soumya deserves his position at top order at least today. He will be castled by Mujib or Nabi. I think Riad is too good a batsman not to recover form soon. 

Bangladesh can do with 8 batsmen if senior pros deliver. We can afford to have two genuine pacers and Saifuddin. Hope Mosaddek and Raid would bowl full 4 overs if wicket favours spin. Against Afghans Shakib must start with Mustafiz in one end and himself or Taijul at the other. He must not lose out of idea at crucial stage of the match. I am not sure how much home works Bangladesh have about players of this Afghan team. If not surprises would wait for them. Afghans have detailed plan about each Bangladesh player.

Afghans for a change batted very well in test and yesterday in T20. Nazibullah Zadran destroyed Zimbabwean attack. They have teenager Hafizullah Zazai and Ashar Afghan to provide backbone to Afghan batting. Nabi is proven all rounder and Rashid is fast developing into. Afghans are fighting fit and great athletes. 

Rain may turn out a factor. Forecast is there for sustained rain from morning till afternoon. Even if match starts and ground dried after mopping spinners may struggle gripping wet ball returning from out field. Winning the toss and batting first may be right option for Bangladesh if not heavy overcast condition favours swing at the start. Anyway best of luck for better team on the day.  A win of either side would secure it to the final as Zimbabwe has lost both matches. But there is enough hints that Zimbabwe may turn around surprise either Bangladesh or Afghanistan in Chattogram. Hence there is no option but to win today.

BDST: 1214 HRS, SEP 15, 2019
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