Post by : Naveen Mittal
Bangladesh’s cricket team stayed in the fight for a Super Four spot in the Asia Cup 2025 after pulling off a thrilling 8-run victory against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The win means Bangladesh remain in the race, while Afghanistan will now face a must-win clash against Sri Lanka to keep their own chances alive.
Batting first, Bangladesh put up a competitive score of 154 for 5 in their 20 overs. Young opener Tanzid Hasan was the star performer, scoring a well-made half-century. His 52 runs from just 31 balls gave Bangladesh the platform they needed.
Afghanistan’s bowlers tried to restrict the scoring with tight spells. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad picked up two wickets each, keeping Bangladesh from running away with a bigger total. However, Bangladesh’s middle-order batters rotated the strike well and ensured the scoreboard kept ticking.
Chasing 155, Afghanistan started with intent but quickly lost momentum as Bangladesh’s bowlers struck at regular intervals. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 31) and Azmatullah Omarzai (30 off 16) looked dangerous at times, but their dismissals put pressure back on the Afghan side.
Bangladesh’s pacers—Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, and Taskin Ahmed—were the difference makers. Mustafizur took 3 wickets for 28 runs, Nasum gave away only 11 runs in 4 overs while picking up 2 wickets, and Taskin added 2 more crucial dismissals.
Afghan captain Rashid Khan nearly turned the game around with a quick 20 runs from just 11 balls. His explosive shots gave Afghanistan a glimmer of hope. But once Rashid was dismissed, the balance tilted back to Bangladesh.
Noor Ahmad tried to keep the fight alive with a couple of late sixes, but Afghanistan were bowled out for 145, falling short by just 8 runs.
With this victory, Bangladesh finished their group stage matches with 4 points. They now sit in second place behind Sri Lanka, who also have 4 points but a better net run rate.
For Afghanistan, the upcoming match against Sri Lanka will decide their fate. If they win, all three teams in the group—Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—will be tied on points, and net run rate will become the deciding factor for qualification.
Sri Lanka: 4 points (Top of the table)
Bangladesh: 4 points (Finished all group matches)
Afghanistan: 2 points (One match left vs Sri Lanka)
Bangladesh will now hope that Sri Lanka defeat Afghanistan, which would allow them to qualify for the Super Four without depending on net run rate.
Bangladesh fans celebrated the victory with joy, praising their bowlers for holding their nerves in a tense finish. The win not only kept their team alive in the tournament but also showed the fighting spirit of the players under pressure.
Afghan fans, on the other hand, were left heartbroken as their team came close but could not cross the line. Their hopes now rest on a strong performance against Sri Lanka.
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