Bangladesh Take on Afghanistan in Opener

Dhaka: With the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh getting underway on Sunday (March 16), here a look at key battles, approaching milestones and a few facts from the Bangladesh and Afghanistan clash.

Shakib Al Hasan is Bangladesh’s outstanding performer in all formats, but it is in Twenty20 cricket that his explosive stroke-play and canny left-arm spin dominates games most. Only Anamul Haque has a higher strike rate amongst Bangladesh’s current top order than Shakib’s 127.8 and his bowling average of 19.1 and economy rate of 6.7 puts him in the top bracket of slow bowlers.

Bangladesh will have to leave out Al-Amin Hossain if Mashrafe Mortaza is fit to play. There will be a last-minute call between Farhad Reza and Sohag Gazi depending on who offers Mushfiqur more safety. Either one of Mominul Haque and Sabbir Rahman would be given a place in the playing XI.

Samiullah Shenwari has an even better economy rate (5.9) and it will be the leg-spinner’s prime job to keep Shakib quiet. He is also handy with the bat, having recently hit a half-century against India in a One Day International.

Najeeb Tarakai and Shafiqullah are likely to be given places in the final XI, making it difficult for Asghar Stanikzai to find a place. Mirwais Ashraf's medium pace will be handy in Mirpur, but he will have to fight for a spot with Gulbadin Naib, who has prior experience of playing at the ground.

Teams from

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim(c), Al-Amin Hossain, Farhad Reza, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Abdur Razzak, Anamul Haque(w), Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Rubel Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, Sohag Gazi

Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi(c), Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Asghar Stanikzai, Gulbadin Naib, Hamza Hotak, Mirwais Ashraf, Najeeb Taraki, Nawroz Mangal, Shafiqullah Shafiq

Pitch and conditions
The Mirpur wicket will cater to the demand of the organisers. There will be a flat, batting-friendly surface with short boundaries on at least one side, depending on which wicket is used for the tournament opener. By the time the match starts, the weather will cool down according to the forecast for Sunday.

Stats & trivia

• Bangladesh and Afghanistan have never previously met in a Twenty20 match.
• The host nation of the previous ICC World Twenty20 tournaments has won their opening fixture thrice (South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka). England lost the curtain-raiser in 2009.
• Bangladesh has lost four if its last five T20s.
• Afghanistan has won 11 and lost 11 of their 22 T20Is. It has lost four of its last six T20s.
• Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 101 runs at an average of 50.5 in three T20I innings at the Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
• Rahim needs two dismissals to become the sixth wicket-keeper to take 30 T20I dismissals.

Match facts
Sunday March 16, 2014 (day/night)
Start time 1530  local (0930 GMT)