The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala will witness a thrilling clash as Bangladesh and Afghanistan kick off their respective campaigns in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to commence at 10:30 am.
Over the past decade, Afghanistan has been nipping at the heels of Bangladesh in the cricketing arena. Their rivalry reached new heights this year, with a balanced scorecard of 2-2 in their recent encounters. Afghanistan secured a victory in the bilateral ODI series in Chattogram, but Bangladesh responded with a dominant performance in the Asia Cup. Despite the competitive spirit and camaraderie among the players from both teams, when the two take the field in Dharamsala for the World Cup opener, all bets are off.
For Afghanistan, this tournament marks their third appearance in the ICC Cricket World Cup since their debut in 2015 when they were hailed as rising stars. They have since earned a reputation as formidable contenders, with the presence of cricket sensation Rashid Khan.
Pitch Report
Historically, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala has been known for favouring fast bowlers, but there’s a possibility that it might transform into a haven for batsmen as the game progresses. This stadium has witnessed an average first-inning score of 214. Among the four ODIs contested at this venue, the team batting second emerged victorious on three occasions. The highest recorded score at this ground was achieved by India, who notched up an impressive 330 against the West Indies back in 2014.
Head-to-head stats
In head-to-head statistics, Bangladesh holds a slight advantage with nine victories out of 15 ODIs against Afghanistan. Notably, their most recent clash in September 2023 witnessed stellar performances from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, propelling Bangladesh to a formidable total of 334-5 in 50 overs. The upcoming match promises to be a thrilling chapter in their ongoing rivalry.
Squads
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq
Where to watch?
The ICC World Cup 2023 match between Bangladesh vs Afghanistan will be broadcast on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, and Star Sports 1 Hindi. Also, it will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar app and website.