Afghanistan Opts to Bat First Against Bangladesh in the 1st T20I at Sharjah

Afghanistan has decided to bat first against Bangladesh in the 1st T20I at Sharjah. They made the decision after looking at the nature of the surface, which looked good for batting. It is the first match of the series that will kick-start the preparation of both teams for next year’s T20 World Cup. 

Afghanistan would be looking to back their decision by producing a big total in the first innings, provided they get a good start from both openers in the Powerplay.

Talking about the team combination, Bangladesh has picked 5 specialist bowlers for today’s clash against Afghanistan. They know the nature of the Sharjah surface and how it can assist spin bowling during the middle phase of the game. Keeping that in view, they have picked Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed in the lineup to bolster their spin bowling attack.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, has also done the same in its bowling lineup. They have picked three specialist spinners (Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad) for this game, which will be their first clash against Bangladesh after the Asia Cup 2025. 

It will be interesting to see how Afghanistan performs in this match, especially after their loss to Bangladesh in the last group-stage game of the Asia Cup 2025.

The batting department of Afghanistan has to perform well in the first innings. Otherwise, their decision will backfire quickly. Meanwhile, Bangladesh would be looking to take quick wickets in the Powerplay to halt the opening plans of the Afghanistan team.

The batting lineup of Bangladesh will also come into the spotlight, as their performance could play a defining role for the tigers. 

The opening batter, Saif Hassan, is currently in good form, so Bangladesh will rely on him to give a good start to the team in the Powerplay. His performance could give Bangladesh a vital impetus in batting, hence he will play a key role for the tigers in the second innings.