Bangladesh prepare for Afghan series despite Asia Cup heartbreak

 
Bangladesh gear up for white-ball series against Afghanistan after their hopes to play the final of the Asia Cup was shattered following a 11-run defeat to Pakistan on Thursday night.  In the series hosted by Afghanistan in their adopted venue in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh will play three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs.

The three-match T20 Internationals will mark the beginning of the series with Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosting those matches on October 2, 3 and 5.The ODI series will take place at Sheik Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi with the opening game on October 8, followed by last two matches on October 11 and 14.

Bangladesh, however, will stay at the UAE as the Afghan series is just five days away.

The Asia Cup will end on September 28 when Pakistan and India will meet in a high voltage final.  Bangladesh met Afghanistan in the group phase of the Asia Cup and won the game by eight runs, to keep them psychologically ahead.

But in the overall T20 record, Afghanistan still holds edge by slim margin. The Afghans won seven and lost six against Bangladesh in 13 meetings.
Bangladesh, however, have the upper-hand over Afghans in ODI format, winning 11 and losing six in 19 contests.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Litton Das, who missed the Asia Cup matches against India and Pakistan with a side strain, has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan as well, a BCB source confirmed the matter to media.

Liton sustained an injury during practice and ruled out of the game against India and Pakistan. He carried his good form in the Asia Cup making 273 runs altogether in the last five innings with two half-centuries. The medical team did not clear him to play, and the same concern keeps him sidelined for the Afghanistan series.

Earlier, Bangladesh Head Coach Phil Simmons believes that the absence of regular skipper Liton Das in the 'do or die' Asia Cup clash against Pakistan hurt their chance badly.

Bangladesh eventually lost the game by 11 runs, despite restricting Pakistan to a meager 135-8. The defeat ruined their chance to seal the final.

"Losing the captain in such good form is a big thing for us. When someone of his class is suddenly unavailable, the situation gets tough," Simmons said after Bangladesh's match against Pakistan in Dubai.

Chasing a target of 136 to victory, Bangladesh batters also dug their own graveyards by playing injudicious shots, a thing that Simmons didn't deny.
"We didn't have to chase it in any (particular number of) overs. We just had to win the game," said Simmons. "It was just a bad decision. All of the teams have that at some point. It was us today. We didn't make the best shot selections.