After a lopsided ODI series that went in the favour of Bangladesh, the action now shifts to the T20Is, where one can expect a closer contest, considering Afghanistan's prowess in this format. The series will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
To end their winless streak of eight T20Is, Bangladesh have decided to rely on the proven names. Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim, dropped from the side after the T20 World Cup debacle, have been recalled. Das was the leading run-scorer and Player of the Series in the ODI, while Mushfiqur scored 86 in the second game.
Munim Shahriar is expected to open batting with Liton. On the bowling front, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed will spearhead the pace attack, while Shakib Al Hasan, Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan will be tasked to handle the spin department.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, have dropped seniors like Gulbadin Naib and Hashmatullah Shahidi. Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai are likely to debut on Thursday. They will bank on Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai for a quick start. However, they do have a problem in the middle order, with Mohammad Nabi coming at No. 5 followed by a relatively inexperienced set of all-rounders.
Eyes will be on the Afghan spinners, Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Probable XIs
Bangladesh: Liton Das (wk), Munim Shahriar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah (c), Yasir Ali, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Ahmed
Fantasy Tips
- Load your team with spinners. The slow Dhaka surface typically aids them.
- Among wicketkeepers, pick both Rahim and Gurbaz.
- Make Shakib captain and Rashid vice-captain.
Fantasy XI:
Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan (vc), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi