Afghanistan and Bangladesh are set to face each other in the 1st T20I of their three-match series in the UAE. The match will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 2, 2025, starting at 8:30 PM IST. Both teams will be eager to start the series with a win and set the tone for the rest of the tour.
Match Details
-
Match: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I
-
Series: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh in UAE, 2025
-
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
-
Time: 8:30 PM IST
-
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
-
Format: T20 International
Afghanistan Team Overview
Afghanistan will be led by Rashid Khan, one of the most dangerous T20 bowlers in the world. Ibrahim Zadran has been appointed as vice-captain. The wicketkeeping duties will be handled by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with Mohammad Ishaq as backup.
The Afghan squad is heavily spin-dominated, with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Sharafuddin Ashraf forming a strong unit. The batting will rely on Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, and Azmatullah Omarzai, while all-rounder Mohammad Nabi adds depth and experience.
Afghanistan Squad (T20I)
Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Rahmat Shah Zurmati.
Bangladesh Team Overview
Bangladesh will be without their regular T20I captain Litton Das, who is sidelined with an injury. Jaker Ali has been retained as the stand-in captain and wicketkeeper for this series. The team has brought back experienced all-rounder Soumya Sarkar, who joins a squad balanced with both pace and spin options.
The batting will depend on Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Saif Hassan, while the bowling attack will feature experienced names like Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Nasum Ahmed. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain will also play a crucial role in the middle overs.
Bangladesh Squad (T20I)
Jaker Ali (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar.
Head-to-Head
Afghanistan and Bangladesh have faced off multiple times in T20Is, with matches often being close contests. Afghanistan’s spinners have traditionally troubled Bangladesh’s batting, while Bangladesh’s experienced pace attack has given them the edge in several games.
Pitch Report – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The pitch at Sharjah is known for being batting-friendly, with short boundaries that allow big hitters to clear the ropes easily. Scores of 160–180 are considered competitive. However, as the match progresses, the pitch can slow down, bringing spinners and cutters into play. Dew is often a factor in night matches, making chasing slightly easier.
Key Players to Watch
-
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
-
Bangladesh: Jaker Ali, Towhid Hridoy, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain.
Probable Scenarios
-
Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, considering the dew factor.
-
Afghanistan’s spin trio could strangle Bangladesh in the middle overs.
-
Bangladesh’s fast bowlers, led by Mustafizur and Taskin, will try to exploit any early swing under lights.
-
Batting depth will decide the outcome, with chasing teams slightly favored at this venue.
Match Prediction
Afghanistan go into the match as slight favorites because of their spin depth and familiarity with UAE conditions. However, Bangladesh have a balanced side and can cause an upset if their batting clicks.
Prediction: Afghanistan to edge past Bangladesh by 5–6 wickets or around 20 runs.