Early win could be key as Bangladesh face Afghanistan
Cricket
Both of these teams will need a string of upsets in order to reach the semi-finals.
DHARAMSALA (Web Desk) - Bangladesh and Afghanistan's chances of reaching the final four of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 could well hinge on the outcome of their opening match to be played today (Saturday) at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
Only qualifiers Netherlands are ranked lower in the men's ODI rankings than Bangladesh and Afghanistan, meaning both of these teams will need a string of upsets in order to reach the semi-finals.
But both teams have plenty of talent and are capable of troubling the world's best, particularly in conditions that play to their strengths, which will be the case in some of the venues at this tournament.
Victory in Dharamsala for either side would boost those semi-final chances, but conditions may not favour the teams' strengths. Afghanistan have three of the top ten in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, all of whom are spinners, while Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan remains one of the best in the world.
Yet history suggests that spin goes the distance in Dharamsala, with short boundaries and high altitude meaning that quick bowlers have had more wicket-taking impact at the ground.
Squads
Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Kumer Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.
