Afghanistan tour to Bangladesh 2019 [Preview]
Afghanistan is set to tour Bangladesh in the month of September to play one-off Test at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. The game will be played from 5th till 9th September. Newly appointed Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan will be hoping that the side can deliver a decent performance in this one-off Test.
Captain Shakib Al Hasan will be hoping that Bangladesh get adequate time to prepare well for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. All-rounder will be hoping that Bangladesh can start their home season on a winning note.
The side suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of New Zealand in three-match Test series played in New Zealand.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal also did well on Bangladesh tour to New Zealand. The left-hander scored 278 runs at an average of 69.50.
Since August 2016, Wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has topped the batting charts for Bangladesh in Test cricket. He accumulated 1356 runs in 18 matches at an average of 42.37 with three centuries to his name.
Mushfiqur will be keen to do well against Afghanistan in this one-off Test. He is a bankable performer with the bat for Bangladesh in red-ball cricket.
Shakib Al Hasan hasn’t played much Test cricket since the past 12 months. In 13 matches, Shakib has scored 984 runs at an average of 39.36.
Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar are experienced players in the batting department that will need to produce consistent scores for the side in this one-off Test to be played at Chittagong. Pugnacious opener Soumya Sarkar did well for Bangladesh in the three-match series played in New Zealand. He scored 198 runs at an average of 49.5 with one century to his name.
In the bowling department, off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraaz has been premier performer for Bangladesh in Test cricket. Since August 2016, Miraaz has topped the bowling charts for Bangladesh and picked up 58 wickets at an average of 20.68.
Left-arm orthodox spinner, Taijul Islam, has also claimed 53 wickets in 10 Test matches at an average of 23.35. The spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraaz and Taijul Islam has bowled in tandem for Bangladesh in the longer format of the game.
On the other hand, Afghanistan will be looking to build on their success against Ireland. The side will be led by newly appointed Test captain Rashid Khan, who will be hoping that the side can put on a decent performance with bat and ball in this one-off Test.
In the batting department, the side will be relying on likes of Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan to deliver the bulk of the runs in this game. Shah has been a bankable performer for the side in the Test and ODI cricket. Afghanistan will be hoping that Rahmat Shah can produce runs with the bat in this game.
Former Afghanistan Captain Asghar Afghan has also produced decent numbers with the bat. In this one-off game, Afghan will be keen to make a notable score for Afghanistan.
In the bowling department, Yamin Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will need to deliver breakthroughs for the side in this contest. Wafadar Momand and Waqar Salamkheil are other bowling options for the side for this one-off Test.
