The upcoming ICC T20 World Cup Super Eights Group 1 match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh is set to take place on Monday, June 24 at 8:30 pm local time. If Afghanistan manages to secure a substantial victory over Bangladesh, it could propel them to their first ICC T20 World Cup semifinals. Their coach, Jonathan Trott, believes that having a clear understanding of the scenario and what is needed to win will be beneficial in this crucial game. Afghanistan is coming off an emotional 21-run win against Australia and will be aiming to replicate that success against Bangladesh with an even larger margin.
Afghanistan has only lost two out of their six matches in the tournament so far, whereas Bangladesh has faced defeat in three out of their six matches across the group stage and Super Eights. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan are leading the tournament in the categories of top run-scorers and wicket-takers, respectively. Despite facing a challenging situation after two losses in the Super Eight phase, Bangladesh is determined to put up a fight against Afghanistan. The assistant coach, Nic Pothas, has expressed their intention to compete fiercely and finish the tournament on a high note.
To qualify for the semifinals, Afghanistan will either need to win their last match or secure a win with a healthy net run rate if Australia beats India. A significant victory, with an estimated margin of 50 runs while batting first or chasing a target with five overs to spare while bowling first, could potentially see them through. The pitch at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground has produced low-scoring matches, with wickets being evenly shared between pace and spin bowlers. Weather conditions in Saint Vincent could potentially disrupt the match, with cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and scattered showers expected.
In terms of head-to-head encounters, Afghanistan has won six out of the 11 T20 matches against Bangladesh. The last meeting between these two teams was in July 2023, where Bangladesh emerged victorious in a home T20 series. In their only T20 World Cup encounter in March 2014, Bangladesh claimed a nine-wicket win. Currently, Afghanistan’s form guide shows two losses, while Bangladesh has a mix of wins and losses in their recent matches. Both teams are expected to field their strongest line-ups for this crucial encounter, with Afghanistan likely to stick with the same squad that almost secured them a spot in the semifinals. Bangladesh may introduce Soumya Sarkar for what could be their final match in the tournament.
