🏏Asia Cup 2023: M4: BD vs AFG at Lahore on 03/09/2023 at 3PM IST 🏏 - Page 4

Shakib Al Hasan: We will bat first. It looks a good wicket and keeping the weather in mind, it is very hot. We have three changes. We didn't execute with the bat and that was our downfall, but today is a new day and a good wicket, hopefully we put up a good score on the board.

Bangladesh have won the toss and have opted to bat

Hashmatullah Shahidi: We would have batted first as well. Quite excited, we have a lot of crowd and supporters here. The preparation was quite good, we had a series against Pakistan and we have been here for the last one week. Two seam all rounders, one seamer, three spinners and rest of them are batters.

Teams:

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Sohel Rana: "After seeing previous matches of this Asia Cup I think it's really worse decision to bat first whatever the pitch seems to be." --- Considering how hot it currently is in Lahore, feel like this might be the game to buck that trend. Batting after fielding 50 overs in this heat will not be easy.

Pitch report: "It's a good batting wicket, so should be a high scoring game. As for the bowlers, the cracks should open up under the sun so the spinners could get some assistance as the game wears on. There could be something for the seamers as well."

Saleque Sufi : "True a do or die match for Bangladesh. But they have more than even chance of winning and advancing . They must forget their last match as nightmare . They have some match winners and can definitely win. But Afghanistan is not also a push over. It will be a tight contest . Better team of the day will win "

Mohammad Shafi: "Today's Bangladesh team look much better and balanced team specifically batting dept till Afif looks very attacking. "

Shohan: "Bringing Miraz as a make shift opener is a good move for bangladesh!"

Islam: "I feel Afif will open given how he played on the last T20 against afganistan in sylhet. Shamim will slot in as a finisher."