Afghanistan will face Bangladesh in the final Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024. Both the teams are still alive in the tournament, but Afghanistan have a great chance to qualify for the semi-finals. They are currently in the third position in Group 1 with 2 points and a net run rate of -0.650.
Rashid Khan and Co. suffered a 47-run defeat against India but bounced back with a historic triumph over Australia to keep themselves in the hunt. If India defeats Australia in their final match, things will become more easier for Afghanistan. They will just need to defeat Bangladesh in the upcoming match to book a berth in the knockouts.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh are on the brink of elimination after losing their first two matches. They will now aim to spoil the party of Afghanistan. Fans can look forward to a thrilling game of cricket at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent on Tuesday, June 25, as the two Asian teams are set to face each other.
Read More: 3 Bangladesh players to watch out for in their clash against Afghanistan in T20 World Cup 2024
Here are three key player battles to watch out for in the AFG vs BAN clash:
3. Litton Das vs Naveen-ul-Haq
Litton Das has struggled to find runs in the tournament so far. He was dismissed for just 13 runs in the last match against India. As Bangladesh’s campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup draws to a close, the keeper-batter will be looking forward to playing a good innings. However, it remains to be seen if he can handle the new ball threat from the Afghan pacers.
Naveen-ul-Haq is likely to be a big threat in the opening overs for Bangladesh. The right-arm pacer wreaked havoc in the previous match against Australia, taking three wickets in four overs at an economy of just 5.00. If his good form continues, Bangladesh opener Litton Das will be in big trouble considering his current form.
2. Towhid Hridoy vs Rashid Khan
Towhid Hridoy has been one of the best batters for Bangladesh in the ongoing series. The 23-year-old has scored over 130 runs in six matches at a decent strike rate. He is a reliable option for the team in the middle order if they face an early collapse.
The right-hander is likely to have an interesting match-up with Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan. The spin wizard has been in fine form, taking 10 wickets at an average of 14.80. Rashid will bowl in the middle overs and look to get Hridoy out before he does any serious damage.
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament and the backbone of the Afghanistan batting unit. The opening batter has scored 238 runs in six matches at an average of 39.67 and a strike rate of 141.67. He scored a crucial 60 runs against Australia in the last match while building a 118-run partnership for the first wicket.
Afghanistan will hope to get another flying start from Gurbaz, but Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib may pose a threat to the right-hander. Including two big wickets in the last match against India, Sakib has picked up 11 scalps so far in the tournament.