ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh enters a critical Group B match against Afghanistan in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
The match is critical for Bangladesh’s chances of advancing after a setback against Sri Lanka that impacted their net run rate. While a win is essential, Bangladesh’s fate also depends on other group results, notably the match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh’s challenges
Bangladesh’s recent 32-ball defeat to Sri Lanka dented their net run rate. This has placed pressure on the team to deliver a strong performance against Afghanistan. Although Bangladesh won against Hong Kong, their slow run chase raised concerns over scoring tempo, critical in T20 formats.
Their spin consultant, Mushtaq Ahmed, stated how the middle overs were a “key battleground” where Bangladesh must both defend effectively with the ball and set a high score.
Mushtaq also noted Afghanistan’s comparative advantage due to significant exposure to franchise T20 cricket.
Points table
Group B Standings (after recent matches):
Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate |
1 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.546 |
2 | Afghanistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +4.700 |
3 | Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.650 |
4 | Hong Kong | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.151 |
Group A Standings:
Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate |
1 | India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +4.793 |
2 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1.649 |
3 | United Arab Emirates | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2.030 |
4 | Oman | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -3.375 |
In Group B, Bangladesh’s progression depends on their result against Afghanistan and the outcome of the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan match. With net run rate playing an important role, the margin of victory or defeat could determine which teams advance to the knockout phase.
