Bangladesh face a daunting tactical task in Sharjah after being bowled out for 160 in their must-win tri-series encounter against Afghanistan on Wednesday, leaving them needing to restrict their opponents to 119 or fewer to reach Friday’s final.
To overtake Zimbabwe on net run rate and secure second place in the standings, stand-in captain Tawhid Hridoy’s side must claim victory by at least 41 runs. That equation leaves Bangladesh with no choice but to bowl Afghanistan out for under 120.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh suffered an immediate top-order collapse, slumping to 28 for four inside the Powerplay. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim managed just one before falling to Yamin Ahmadzai, while Soumya Sarkar perished for a golden duck. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto chipped in with 15 off 23 balls before departing, and stand-in captain Tawhid Hridoy lasted just two deliveries without scoring.
Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan mounted a vital middle-order recovery. Saif contributed a patient 41 off 82 balls, while Emon anchored the innings with a combative 70 off 96 deliveries, striking five boundaries and two sixes.
However, leg-spinner Rashid Khan tore through the lower order, taking four wickets for 31 runs to bowl Bangladesh out for 160 in 41.2 overs.
Earlier, off-spinner Aliss Al Islam was handed his One Day International debut as Bangladesh made three changes to their starting team. Emon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Aliss replaced Rishad Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat. Afghanistan brought in Yamin Ahmadzai and Bilal Sami in place of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Zia Ur Rahman.
Bangladesh now require an extraordinary performance from their bowling attack to achieve their qualification target.
