Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights Asia Cup 2025: Nasum, Mustafizur keep BAN alive with 8-run win
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights Asia Cup 2025, BAN vs AFG: Bangladesh stayed afloat in the Asia Cup as Nasum Ahmed’s opening strike and Mustafizur Rahman’s clinical death bowling sealed a hard-fought 8-run triumph. Sediqullah Atal fell for a golden duck, with Nasum Ahmed immediately shifting momentum in Bangladesh’s favour by bowling a wicket maiden in the innings’ first over. Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan spun a web of control to stifle Bangladesh, limiting them to 154/5 in a high-stakes must-win clash, with timely breakthroughs and tight overs keeping the batsmen under constant pressure. Bangladesh were bolstered by a 31-ball 52 from opener Tanzid Hasan and his 63-run opening stand with Saif Hassan (30), powering the Tigers to 87 for one at the halfway mark. However, the spinners pulled Afghanistan back in the game with Noor and Rashid claiming two wickets each.
Skipper Litton Das elected to bat in the do-or-die contest, while Bangladesh welcomed back speedster Taskin Ahmed into the starting lineup. Litton Das has chosen to bat first in the must-win clash, with pacer Taskin Ahmed making his return to the playing XI. The clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan carries huge significance, with both sides eyeing a spot in the Super Four. Afghanistan enter the contest fresh from their win over Oman in their only outing so far, while Bangladesh, after two games, faces pressure following a morale-denting defeat to Sri Lanka. It is going to be a high-octane clash with the kind of stakes on the line.
Sri Lanka currently at the top of Group B with two wins from two games, collecting four points and boasting a strong net run rate of +1.546. Afghanistan follow in second place with two points from a single win, backed by an impressive net run rate of +4.700. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are placed third with two points after winning one and losing one of their two outings
Bangladesh will rely on their skipper Litton Das to set the platform once again, while the onus will also be on Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain to stabilise things in the middle order against high-quality Afghanistan spin attack.
Afghanistan's potent spin attack of captain Rashid Khan, veteran Mohammad Nabi, left-arm sensation Noor Ahmad, and the emerging AM Ghazanfar, a combination tailor-made for prevailing conditions.
Afghan coach Jonathan Trott knows exactly how important good spinners can be when playing on the sub-continent and wants to use this to his advantage going forward, ahead of the T20 World Cup at the start of next year.
"Right now, we have a great opportunity with the Asia Cup. Looking a bit further ahead, with the World Cup coming up in February, we have good memories of playing in the sub-continent - in Sri Lanka and India," he added.
"It can be tempting to look too far ahead, but for now, Bangladesh (at the Asia Cup) is at the forefront of everyone's mind, and we're focused on winning that game," Trott said.
Afghanistan carry the confidence of a recent victory over Pakistan and two wins against UAE in the tri-series. They began their Asia Cup campaign with a 94-run thrashing of Hong Kong.
They also have a fiery top-order in Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran, but they will be up against in-form Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights Asia Cup 2025:
- Bangladesh (154/5) beat Afghanistan (146 all out) by 8 runs in Group B match in Abu Dhabi.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for 35 off 31 balls.
- Sediqullah Atal departed for a golden duck as Nasum Ahmed swung momentum in Bangladesh’s favour with wicket maiden in first over of the innings.
- Bangladesh scored 154/5 (TH Tamim 52; N Ahmad 2/23) in 20 overs vs Afghanistan in Group B match in Abu Dhabi.
- Noor Ahmad made an immediate impact, striking with his very first delivery to dismiss Litton Das.
- Rashid Khan struck after the powerplay, breaking the opening partnership by removing Saif Hassan.
- Tanzid Hasan broke the early pressure by counter-attacking Fazalhaq Farooqi with four boundaries in an over.
- Litton Das has chosen to bat first in the must-win clash, with pacer Taskin Ahmed making his return to the playing XI.
