Bangladesh’s dream of reaching the CAVA Cup Men’s Volleyball 2025 final ended in Mirpur on Monday after a 3-1 defeat to Afghanistan in a decisive round-robin match at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium. The fixture, effectively treated as an unofficial semi-final, determined the second finalist of the tournament and saw Afghanistan secure their place in the title match.
Bangladesh went into the contest with three wins from their opening matches. Their narrow loss to Turkmenistan in a thrilling five-set battle had left the hosts with a clear equation: only a win would take them to the final. With a packed home crowd behind them, the home side started strongly.
The opening set delivered the intensity expected from such a high-stakes clash. Bangladesh edged the set 25-23 after a tight exchange of points, sparking celebrations around the arena as supporters sensed momentum building for the hosts.
However, Afghanistan responded with composure and gradually took control of the match. They levelled the contest by winning the second set 25-20 after capitalising on key points during the mid-phase. The third set proved just as tense as the opener, but Bangladesh lost grip in the closing moments and Afghanistan claimed it 25-23 to move ahead.
With their tournament hopes on the line, Bangladesh had no option but to take the fourth set. Despite effort and urgency from the hosts, Afghanistan maintained their rhythm and closed the set 25-19 to seal the match and their place in the final. Afghan players celebrated on court as their qualification was confirmed.
Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka all finished the round-robin stage with three wins each. Afghanistan progressed to the final on superior points, earning the right to face unbeaten Turkmenistan for the championship title. The hosts will now meet Sri Lanka in the third-place playoff as both sides battle for pride and the bronze medal.
