Match 9 | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Match Highlights | DP World Asia Cup 2025 | ZF13

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Match Highlights | DP World Asia Cup 2025

The DP World Asia Cup 2025 brought us an exciting match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, two teams eager to perform well in the tournament. Both sides had strong line-ups, but it was Bangladesh who came out on top in this thrilling encounter.

Pre-Match Build-up

Bangladesh and Afghanistan both had good teams, but Bangladesh was slightly favored due to their recent form. With captain Shakib Al Hasan leading the team, they were confident going into the match. Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a young and energetic squad, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi. They were also determined to put up a strong fight, especially with the dangerous Rashid Khan in their ranks.

The toss was won by Bangladesh, and they chose to bat first, hoping to set a good total for Afghanistan to chase.

Bangladesh’s Innings: A Steady Start

Bangladesh’s openers, Liton Das and Tanzid Hasan, started off the innings. Liton was in attacking mode from the beginning, hitting some boundaries. Tanzid, however, took a more cautious approach, building his innings slowly. The two added a decent 60-run partnership before Tanzania was dismissed for 28 by Rashid Khan’s clever bowling.

Shakib Al Hasan came in next and kept the innings going. He played a solid knock, scoring 41 runs. His calm batting allowed Bangladesh to keep a steady run rate. However, Rashid Khan struck again, dismissing Shakib with a catch in the deep, leaving Bangladesh at 142-4 in the 35th over.

Mushfiqur Rahim joined Liton at the crease, and the two formed a partnership that kept Bangladesh’s score ticking. Liton reached his half-century and looked set for a big score, but he fell for 55 when he mistimed a shot off Rashid Khan.

Afghanistan’s bowlers continued to fight back, but Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah Riyad added a vital 50-run partnership in the lower order. Bangladesh ended their innings with 214-7 after 50 overs.

Afghanistan’s Chase: A Struggle

Afghanistan needed 215 runs to win, and it was not going to be easy. Bangladesh’s bowlers, especially Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan, were ready to put pressure on Afghanistan’s top order.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran opened the innings for Afghanistan. While Gurbaz played a few good shots, Zadran struggled, eventually getting out for just 15. Afghanistan was 30-1 in the 8th over. Gurbaz, though, looked confident and played a few excellent shots. But just as he seemed to be building a strong innings, he fell for 42, caught by the fielder off Mustafizur.

With Afghanistan at 70-2, Mohammad Nabi joined Hashmatullah Shahidi at the crease. The two experienced players tried to steady the ship, adding 45 runs together. But in a key moment, Shahidi was dismissed for 30, caught by a spinner, Taijul Islam, leaving Afghanistan at 115-3 in the 25th over.

Rashid Khan, known for his aggressive batting, was next in, but Bangladesh’s bowlers had already put the game out of reach. Rashid was dismissed for a duck, caught behind off Mustafizur, and that was a big blow for Afghanistan’s chase.

Mohammad Nabi kept fighting, scoring 43 runs, but it was clear that Afghanistan’s chances of winning were fading. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Afghanistan was eventually bowled out for 172 in 45 overs, falling short by 43 runs.

Key Performances

• Liton Das (Bangladesh): 55 runs off 70 balls – Liton played a solid knock and gave Bangladesh a good start at the top.

• Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): 41 runs off 55 balls & 2 wickets for 24 runs – Shakib was excellent with both bat and ball, playing a key role in the win.

• Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh): 3 wickets for 34 runs – Mustafizur bowled well in the death overs and was crucial in breaking Afghanistan’s partnerships.

• Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): 43 runs off 55 balls – Nabi fought hard but couldn’t do it alone.

• Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): 1 wicket for 36 runs – Despite his best efforts, Rashid couldn’t stop Bangladesh’s batting.

Conclusion

In the end, Bangladesh emerged victorious by 43 runs, thanks to a strong performance from their batsmen and bowlers. They set a decent total of 214-7, and their bowlers did well to defend it. Afghanistan, despite some good individual performances, couldn’t chase down the target and were bowled out for 172.

Bangladesh will be happy with the win and will look to carry this momentum forward in the tournament. Afghanistan, though, will need to improve and regroup for their next matches. This was a great contest, and both teams showed their skills, but Bangladesh held their nerve and came out on top.