Bangladesh won toss and decided to bat first in Asia cup match

Bangladesh won toss and chose to bowl against Afghanistan in the fourth match of the Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Bangladesh won toss and decided to bat first in Asia cup match

After the toss, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi stated that if they had won the toss, they would have batted first as well, adding that he thought the recent series against Pakistan (hosted by Sri Lanka) would serve them well. He noted that, given the scorching heat and the quality of the pitch, he prefers to bat first and put on a good total. The match is expected to be a tough one between the two sides, as Afghanistan has beaten Bangladesh in three of the last five meetings.

Afghanistan will play their first-ever international match in Pakistan.

In the past, many Afghan players grew up learning cricket in Pakistan while some also featured in domestic cricket, which includes star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back from their defeat in the first match against Sri Lanka since it is a must-win affair for them in order to qualify for the Super 4.

Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (cap), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.