AFG vs BAN Playing 11: The game at St Vincent today is a must win game for Afghanistan to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals. Afghanistan was scheduled to face Bangladesh to play the 52nd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on June 24 in Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent.
As Australia lost to India in the previous match, Afghanistan’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals increased dramatically. A victory against Bangladesh will seal Afghanistan’s semi-final spot.
Bangladesh too have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals only if they win the game with an NRR that could surpass both Australia and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s chances of winning this game are slightly higher than Bangladesh’s in the last Super 8 match of the tournament. Bangladesh have lost 21 wickets to spin in this World Cup – the most by any team.
Winning the toss, Afghan captain Rashid Khan said “We’d like to bat first. Looking at the conditions here, batting is the best option. This is a proud moment for us being here. We have got the best opportunity to be in the semifinal. We should make sure that we do our basics right and enjoy. Everyone is pumped up. That victory (against Australia) gave us so much energy. Focus is on this game. Same team”.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said “I wanted to bowl first. It’s an important match for us, we have a little chance, we want to grab this one. We have to be calm and execute our plans. The bowling unit is doing a great job. Important how we bat today. Two changes – Jaker and Mahedi not playing. Taskin and Soumya back into the squad”.
AFG vs BAN Playing 11
Bangladesh: Litton Das(w), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
