By: Tarish Bhatt
It’s like a Manchester derby, no? Well, then Burnley facing Leicester City, close enough, huh? As the sub-continent nations, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are set to open their World Cup campaign at the Manuka Oval, Canberra.
Where to watch World Cup match online live streaming
The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh match is scheduled for a 22:00 GMT (09:00 IST) start, with live streaming option HERE for India viewers. Star Sports network will telecast the match in India. Live score updates are available HERE and HERE. In Australia, FOX Sports will telecast the match live, with live streaming option HERE. Viewers can also watch the action live online HERE. Sky Sports will broadcast the game in the United Kingdom with live streaming option HERE.
Bangladesh should go into the encounter as favorites, they are a full member side, but this is not the case. Afghanistan, which were not even the ICC member when Bangladesh first played the World Cup, have more than an outside chance of causing an ‘upset’.
In their one-off meeting, Afghanistan got the better of Bangladesh in the Asia Cup and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the war-torn nation repeats the feat in a bigger stage. “Pressure is not on Afghanistan,” Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi said. “Pressure is totally on Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh, however, have players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim that rated amongst the best in the world. But, the question is will they click and drove the team home in challenging Australian conditions.
The Afghans have a more than decent pace attack and they showed it in practice game against India. Although, India managed to post a mammoth total at the end, but with the new-ball Afghans managed to trouble the defending champions.
“Yeah, Tamim and Shakib are the most senior players for Bangladesh team,” Nabi said. “(But) if you look at the conditions in Bangladesh, it is totally different.”
Another problem with Bangladesh is their batting, as despite having some good players they failed to bat the whole 50 overs in practice match. On the other hand, Afghanistan managed to play their full quota against India in the warm-up fixture.
“We have some very good quicks,” Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said. “Yes, they’re still young, but they have the potential and hopefully they’ll do their job. I feel that our spinners are world class and can bowl on any wicket.”
Squads: Bangladesh: (probable): Anamul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain.
Afghanistan (probable): Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani, Asghar Stanikzai, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi (c), Afsar Zazai (wk), Mirwais Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran.
