Mark your calendars for an exciting cricket showdown as part of the Afghanistan tour of Bangladesh in 2023. The highly anticipated 2nd T20 match is set to take place on Sunday, July 16th, 2023 at the iconic Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. Get ready to witness thrilling cricket action and support your favorite team in this exhilarating encounter.

After enduring defeat in the first two ODI matches, Bangladesh managed to turn the tables by claiming victory in the third ODI match, displaying their resilience. Although they couldn’t salvage the ODI series, they embarked on the T20 series with a promising start, winning the first match convincingly. On the other hand, Afghanistan began the tour strongly but struggled to maintain their winning streak. Despite securing the ODI series, their chances of clinching the T20 series are now slim. In order to even the series, they must secure a victory in this crucial match at all costs.

The thrilling first T20 match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final over. Against all odds, Bangladesh emerged victorious after winning the toss and electing to field first. The bowlers showcased an impressive performance, restricting Afghanistan to a total of just 154 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Leading from the front, skipper Shakib Al Hasan proved to be the standout performer, claiming two wickets in his four overs while conceding only 27 runs. Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Mustafizur Rahman each contributed with one wicket apiece.

Despite Bangladesh’s strong batting lineup, they faced a few hurdles during their chase of 155 runs. However, they managed to reach the target with just two balls to spare, demonstrating their determination. Towhid Hridoy played a pivotal role, finishing unbeaten with an impressive score of 47 runs off 32 deliveries, including three boundaries and two towering sixes. Shamim Hossain also made a notable contribution, scoring 33 runs off just 22 balls, featuring four boundaries.

Overall, it was a gripping encounter that showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, with Bangladesh ultimately emerging triumphant in a closely contested match.

The first match proved to be a disappointment for Afghanistan and their fans, as they failed to capitalize on what seemed like an easily attainable victory. Despite having prominent batsmen such as Hazratullah Zazai, Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Karim Janat in their lineup, Afghanistan’s batting order faltered, resulting in a meager total of 154 runs in 20 overs.

Mohammad Nabi stood out as the top performer with an unbeaten 54 runs off 40 deliveries, comprising six boundaries and a towering six. However, his efforts alone were not enough to bolster the team’s score. Azmatullah Omarzai also made a noteworthy contribution, smashing four impressive sixes to tally 33 runs off 18 balls. Najibullah Zadran chipped in with 23 runs.

Afghanistan’s strength lies in their bowling unit, and although they showcased their prowess in the previous match, they found themselves on the losing side. Despite deploying seven bowlers, it was Karim Janat who shone brightest, claiming three wickets in just 1.5 overs, conceding a mere 15 runs. Fareed Ahmad Malik, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and captain Rashid Khan each contributed with one wicket.

Notably, Rashid Khan emerged as the most economical bowler from their side, conceding just 24 runs in his four overs. Despite their strong bowling performance, Afghanistan failed to defend the target of 155 runs, ultimately succumbing to their opponent’s chase in the final over.

Although the first match ended in disappointment for Afghanistan, they have the opportunity to regroup and bounce back in the upcoming matches, capitalizing on their strengths and striving for improved performances.

To date, Bangladesh has participated in a total of 151 T20 matches. Out of these, they emerged victorious in 55 matches, while the opposing teams secured victory in 93 matches. Additionally, there were 3 matches involving Bangladesh that ended with no result.

Afghanistan has competed in a cumulative total of 114 T20 matches thus far. Impressively, they have secured victory in 72 of these matches, while their opponents emerged triumphant in 42 matches.

In the 10 T20 matches contested between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Bangladesh emerged victorious in 4 matches, while Afghanistan secured triumph in 6 matches.

Based on our match prediction, Afghanistan holds the favored position to win this match. Several key factors contribute to Afghanistan’s status as the favorite team:

1. Despite their loss in the first T20 match, Afghanistan remains a strong contender.
2. Afghanistan possesses a formidable and in-form batting lineup.
3. Bangladesh’s recent victory in the previous match may boost their confidence.
4. Afghanistan has a history of winning against Bangladesh in most of their previous encounters.
5. Bangladesh also displayed a commendable performance in the previous match.
6. Both teams’ main bowlers have been delivering notable performances throughout this series.

Taking these factors into account, Afghanistan emerges as the favored team to clinch victory in this match.

With a robust batting order and a formidable bowling unit, Afghanistan holds an advantage over Bangladesh in today’s match, increasing their chances of securing victory. The likelihood of each team winning today’s match can be summarized as follows:

Afghanistan has a 52% chance of winning this match.
Bangladesh has a 48% chance of winning this match.

The outcome of the toss will hold significant importance in determining the course of each match in this series. Based on our toss prediction, the team winning the toss is likely to opt for batting first.

The upcoming 2nd T20 match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is set to take place at the renowned Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. Known for its excellent batting-friendly pitch, this venue offers a favorable playing surface for the teams. The relatively short boundaries at this stadium will also play a significant role, potentially involving the spinners in the game.

The pitch is expected to maintain its batting-friendly nature throughout the match, offering consistent support to the batsmen. However, chasing a target of 290 runs could prove to be challenging for the team batting second.

The weather forecast for the match day in Sylhet does not bode well for a cricket match. There is a possibility of rain, which could potentially result in interruptions during the game.

Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed , Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan
Vice-Captain: Rashid Khan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Karim Janat, Mujee ur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed

• Date: Sunday, 16th March 2023
• Time: 12:00 PM GMT / 06:00 PM LOCAL / 05:30 PM IST

• Stadium: Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
• Location: Sylhet, Bangladesh
• Time Zone: UTC +06:00

• Total matches: 46
• Matches won batting first: 28
• Matches won bowling first: 18
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 129
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 102
• Highest total recorded: 210/4 (20 Ov) by SL vs BAN
• Lowest total recorded: 33/10 (9.5 Ov) by MLYW vs SLW
• The highest score chased: 193/4 (13.5 Ov) by NED vs IRE
• Lowest score defended: 83/5 (18.1 Ov) by SLW vs BANW

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Litton Das(w), Rony Talukdar, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain.