Bangladesh Eyes Revival in Sharjah Against Afghanistan Today

Following their home Test series against South Africa, Bangladesh is set to face Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates. From Wednesday, November 6, the two teams will meet in the first of a three-match ODI series. After enduring a series of consecutive whitewashes in Test cricket, the Tigers will look to bounce back in the ODI format against Afghanistan.

The match will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, starting at 4 PM Bangladesh time. This match marks the 300th international cricket match to be hosted at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, making it the first international venue in the UAE to achieve this milestone. Bangladesh, by stepping onto the field in the afternoon, will become part of this historic moment.

However, when it comes to history, Bangladesh does not find itself in a favorable position. Between 1990 and 1995, the Tigers played six ODIs at this ground, and they lost all of them. After 29 years, Bangladesh will once again play an ODI here, having participated in a few T20 matches in the interim, including during the T20 World Cup, but none of those matches ended in victory.

On the other hand, Afghanistan has not lost any series at this ground in the last seven years. Recently, they defeated the powerful South African team here, further enhancing their reputation. Thus, Bangladesh enters this 'unknown' ground against a familiar opponent, and Afghanistan will likely be considered the favorites in the first match of the series.

Statistically, however, the head-to-head record favors Bangladesh. In 16 ODIs against Afghanistan, Bangladesh has won 10. They have also won the last three ODIs between the two teams. With this in mind, the Tigers are ready to turn the tide in this match. Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto confirmed their intent to bounce back during a press conference on the eve of the match. However, he also emphasized that he doesn’t want anyone to take undue pressure while batting.

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Shanto said, "I believe that in any format, the top order, or the start of the innings, is very important. I don’t want anyone to bat under too much pressure. The top-order players should enjoy the game and play for the team to the best of their ability."

The Tigers, who have been stuck in a cycle of whitewashes, are targeting a turnaround in the Afghanistan series. While two members of the squad have yet to join the team in the UAE due to visa issues, Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi isn’t concerned with these details.

In a press conference before the first ODI, Shahidi said, “Actually, I didn’t know about the visa issue of the two Bangladeshi players. But as I said earlier, we are not thinking about them; we are only focused on ourselves. We are concentrating on our team and giving our best effort. I don’t know what has happened with their squad. We are just staying focused on our team."

In terms of success, Bangladesh has been consistent in ODIs. In their last series at home against Sri Lanka in March, they won 2–1. Additionally, they secured a victory over New Zealand in Napier last December. Thus, with some positive memories, Bangladesh may step onto the field against Afghanistan with confidence, although the task ahead is not going to be easy. Still, Bangladesh's fans remain hopeful for a victory in their favorite format.