Bangladesh took the opening set 25-23 against Afghanistan on Monday in a crucial CAVA Cup Men’s 2025 clash at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, as the hosts target a place in the tournament final.
The match has been widely viewed as the unofficial semi-final, with the winner joining Turkmenistan in the title decider. Bangladesh entered the fixture knowing only a win would keep their championship hopes alive, following three consecutive victories and a narrow 3-2 loss to Turkmenistan on Sunday.
Backed by a vibrant home crowd, Bangladesh started with urgency, accuracy and strong communication on court. The first set remained tight throughout, with both sides exchanging points at a rapid pace. Bangladesh capitalised on effective serves and quick net play, holding their composure in the final moments to edge out Afghanistan 25-23 for an early advantage.
The hosts displayed improved structure and discipline after recent setbacks, using smart rotations and sharper finishing to maintain pressure. Their blockers and attackers combined effectively to disrupt Afghanistan’s rhythm and force errors at decisive stages.
Earlier, Sri Lanka recorded their third win of the competition by beating Nepal 3-0 with set scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-20. Turkmenistan, who had already confirmed a place in the final, continued their dominant run by defeating Maldives in straight sets 25-14, 25-19 and 25-18 to complete the league phase unbeaten. Maldives finished the round without a win.
Bangladesh’s meeting with Afghanistan will decide the second finalist of the CAVA Cup 2025, with a place in the championship match on the line.
