Bangladesh Win, Keep Semi-Final Hopes Alive

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan: Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan in the most recent match of the Asia Cup 2025. With this win, they keep their hopes of making it to the sem-finals alive.

The Bangladesh vs Afghanistan game was Match 8 of the ACC Asia Cup 2025. The game was played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and saw the Bangla Tigers win the toss and decide to bat first. This decision was against the trend that has been set in this competition.

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Match Breakdown

Despite what one might think of that decision, Bangladesh got off to a brilliant start to their series. The opening pair of Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan scored 59 runs in the powerplay. By the time Saif was dismissed in the seventh over after an anchoring inning of 30 off 28, the team score was 63/1.

However, it was with the arrival of captain Litton Das to the pitch that the Bangladeshi run rate started to decrease. The team made 87 runs in 10 overs before Das got out after struggling for 11 balls and scoring nine runs.

Tanzid Hasan would score his half-century and take the team past the 100-run mark in the 13th over before getting out, becoming Noor Ahmad’s second wicket. The young Afghan bowler’s first prey of the night was skipper Das.

Over the next five overs, about 35 runs were scored as Shamim Hossain nd Jaker Ali played slow innings. Towhid Hridoy played a decent knock of 26 off 20 before being dismissed in the 19th over. The final over saw Nurun Hasan score a couple of boundaries to take Bangladesh past the 150-run mark and eventually to 154/5 at the end of their 20. Certainly a respectable score.

In utter contrast to the Bangladesh innings, Afghanistan got off to the worst possible start to their batting as opener Sediqullah Atal was caught before wicket on the first ball of the inning, getting out for a golden duck. 

Some slow powerplay overs would follow, and by the time the second wicket fell in the fifth over in the shape of Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan’s score was 18/1.

Wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz took charge of taking the wheel of this inning. However, none of his teammates could accelerate around Gurbaz’s anchor inning. Gulbadin Naib would go in the ninth after 16 off 14, and Gurbaz himself was dismissed in the 11th over, with the score being at 62/4.

All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai did attempt to increase the run rate after a few slow overs by Miohammad Nabi, but this dismissal in the 16th over, after a solid knock of 30 off 16, was a massive blow to Afghanistan’s chances in this match.

With 45 runs required in the last four overs, captain Rashid Khan took charge of scoring boundaries. He was supported by low-order batter Noor Ahmad. By the time Rashid was dismissed for 20 off 11 in the 19th over, 23 runs were needed in 10 deliveries. While Noor hit a couple of fours, the lower-order rebellion was not enough to take the Afghans past the finishing line as they got all out for 146, losing the game by eight runs.

For his excellent spell of 2/11 in four overs, Nusum Ahmed was named the Player of the Match of this Bangladesh vs Afghanistan match, especially for taking out the top order in the powerplay.

With this win, Bangladesh have placed themselves well in Group B of the Asia Cup 2025. Having played all three of their games, they are currently second in the group with two wins and four points. They now just need the mighty Sri Lanka to beat Afghanistan, currently at third, in their final group game to find a place in the semi-final, where they will likely play India.

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