Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: Bangladesh beat Afghanistan to stay alive in Super 4s race

Azmatullah Omarzai to share the attack. Also, Bangladesh's last 6 opening stands against full-member nations in T20Is have all been in the single digits. Not ideal at all for a team like them.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tanzid Hasan, Tanzid, too, is off the mark. Full and outside off, shaping a shy bit away. Tanzid Hasan gently caresses it between cover and point for a couple of runs. What a questioning opening over from Fazalhaq Farooqi. Just 3 runs off it. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Saif Hassan, DROPPED! A good effort from Azmatullah Omarzai and had he clung on to that, it would have been a screamer of a catch. Full in length, outside off, Saif Hassan leans into the shot and hits it uppishly to the right of cover. Azmatullah Omarzai leaps and sticks his right hand up. But gets the ball parried behind off the fingertips. A single taken and Saif Hassan is off the mark!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Saif Hassan, BEATEN! Good-length delivery, across off, nipping away. Saif Hassan advances down the track and tries to send the ball to Dubai, but meets only a handful of air.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Saif Hassan, Swings the other way. On a length, outside off, Saif Hassan is beaten all ends up on the outside edge.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Saif Hassan, Huge appeal for LBW, but the finger stays down. Fazalhaq Farooqi looks confident, but going by Rashid Khan's expressions, he is not very sure about the pitching of the ball. Hence, he does not review it. This swings into the batter very late, on a fuller length, around the leg stump. Saif Hassan plays over the line to flick and is beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad. This looks very close and the replay shows that the ball is pitching inside the line, but the projection shows the ball missing the leg stump. So, a good decision from Rashid to not review it.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Saif Hassan, Farooqui starts off with a peach! Spots Saif charging down the track, Fazalhaq Farooqi slants it wide outside off, across the batter. Saif Hassan misses connecting for a drive on this full ball. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Done with the pre-match formalities! The fans have come in numbers for this crucial clash, and it is pretty evenly matched. We can see the Afghanistan players spread out and take up their respective field positions. First big change for Bangladesh - the opening pair! It is Saif Hassan walking out with Tanzid Hasan. Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball in hand as expected and is raring to go with two slips in place as well. Let's play...

The floodlights are on at the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and we are moments away from the start. But before that, the players from both sides make their way out to the middle and line up for the respective national anthems. It will be Bangladesh's first, followed by that of Afghanistan.

PITCH REPORT - Russel Arnold is pitchside. He says this is the pitch that was used in the last game, and it is a bit dry, but on a closer look, it looks like a fresh wicket. Ravi Shastri joins him and says that there is some grass, but it is brown and burnt. Adds that there is a bit of scarring as well with all the running around. He expects it to be on the slower side but not much turn. Litton said 160 would be an ideal score here, but Ravi reckons they will need 10-15 extra runs to make it a winning score.

Afghanistan (Unchanged Playing XI) - Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Bangladesh (Playing XI) - Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (C/WK), Saif Hassan (In for Parvez Hossain Emon), Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (In for Mahedi Hasan), Nasum Ahmed (In for Tanzim Hasan Sakib), Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed (In for Shoriful Islam).

The captain of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, says they would have batted first as well and wanted to put runs on board. But also adds that it doesn't really matter in T20 cricket, and it is all about playing a good brand of cricket. Highlights that they didn't have too many rest days, as they had to play the first game right after the Tri-Series final. Shares that the boys had a good couple of days off coming into this game. Mentions that they have a good bowling lineup, but also stresses that you still need to bowl well and put the batters under pressure. Adds that they need to hit the right areas and need to come out with a positive mindset. On his fitness, Rashid expresses that he is happy to feel the same way he was feeling before the surgery. Ends by saying he is looking forward to enjoying this game.

The captain of Bangladesh, Litton Das, says that they will bat first. Adds that all the boys are excited to play this game. Mentions that this is the last group game for them and they have to win it. Says that the wicket looks good and 160 would be a ideal score but also expects it to be on the slower side. Tells that they have been playing good cricket in recent times and one bad day doesn't change much for them. Informs that they have made four changes, with Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Nurul Hasan, and Saif Hassan coming into the team, and they are going with three spinners and two pacers.

TOSS UPDATE - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Bangladesh and Litton Das elects to BAT first.