After winning the first two games comfortably, Bangladesh will now aim for a 3-0 sweep when they host Afghanistan in the third and final ODI in Chattogram, on 28 February.
A win here will further consolidate Bangladesh's standings at the top of the points table in the ICC Super League. Following this, they have two overseas assignments, in South Africa and Ireland, and a home series against England.
Bangladesh were under pressure in the first game, after losing six wickets for just 46 before being lifted by a 174-run stand between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain. They won that game by four wickets and followed it with an 88-run win in the next ODI. The top order has blown hot and cold, with Tamim Iqbal going through a lean patch.
In the second ODI, Liton Das scored 136 in 126 balls, and Mushfiqur Rahim made 86, as Bangladesh set a target of 307. Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed then claimed two wickets each. Mustafizur, while a bit expensive, has been a threat to the visitors in the opening overs.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, have been let down by their batters on both occasions. Barring Najibullah Zadran, who has scored a fifty in each match, none of the batters looked comfortable. Rahmat Shah scored 52 in the last ODI but it came at a strike rate of 73. They will expect more from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai.
Probable XIs
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (c), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai
Fantasy tips:
- Place your bet on Bangladesh to make it 3-0
- Make Shakib captain and Mujeeb vice-captain.
- Mustafizur, Rashid, and Farooqi are must-haves for your team.
Fantasy XI
Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (vc), Mustafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Taskin Ahmed, Mahmudullah