Rashid Khan leads Afghanistan spin attack as they take on Bangladesh in T20 series

Ajit Vijaykumar 20:18 02/06/2018
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  • Afghanistan ‘host’ Bangladesh for a three-match T20 series in the northern Indian city of Dehradun starting Sunday ahead of their inaugural Test against India.

    Dehradun is the second ‘home’ base provided to Afghanistan by the Indian cricket board after Greater Noida, near the national capital New Delhi. The venue will host three T20 matches from June 3-7.

    The Afghans play their first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru on June 14, making the T20 series the only meaningful preparation for the match.

    Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons admitted it’s not the best way to prepare for their five-day debut but said the players need to get on with it.

    “It has been difficult with the T20 and Test squads training at the same time. But it is getting a bit easier as we are coming up to the game. That is how tours are planned now. You usually have Test matches first and then limited over series or vice versa. We just have to work around that,” Simmons was quoted as saying.

    For the Afghans, spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman will be their main weapons. Both Mujeeb and Rashid had an outstanding IPL, finishing with 14 and 21 wickets respectively.

    The pitch in Dehradun is on the slower side so expect both leg-spinners to inflict maximum damage in their eight overs. However, Mujeeb didn’t feature in the final stretch of the IPL after injuring his bowling hand and there is no clarity over his availability.

    Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be without star pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

    The Tigers called up medium pacer Abul Hasan to replace the Rahman who sustained a toe injury during in the IPL playing for Mumbai Indians.

    Bangaldesh will have their task cut out as they will be playing against a side ranked two places higher than them (eighth) in the ICC rankings.

    Likely line-ups

    Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Najeeb Tarakai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Aftab Alam

    Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Abu Hider, Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam

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