Playing against the Afghans won't be a cakewalk - Miraz
© Cricfrenzy
||Desk Report||
Afghanistan have become a force to reckon with through their performance in the recent years. Their third and latest ODI victory against a Test-playing nation came when they defeated Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup on Monday (September 17).
With this defeat, Sri Lanka have been eliminated from the tournament while Afghanistan have advanced to the Super Four alongside Bangladesh.
The two teams will face each other in their next group match on September 18.
Bangladesh’s limited-over results haven’t been very impressive against Afghanistan. They have so far won three of the five ODIs and only one of the four T20Is between the two teams.
Apart from suffering a 3-0 deficit against their Asian neighbors, the Tigers lost their only previous Asia Cup-clash against Afghanistan back in 2014. So, it goes without saying that they will once again pose a threat to the Mashrafe-led men.
However, Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan thinks that being determined to win will not work until they stick to their plans and play accordingly.
He said: “It won’t happen if we play thinking that we must defeat them. [You] have to be in a process actually. There is nothing to exaggerate about Afghanistan. At the end of the day, we will try to do with whatever we have. [We] will bat and bowl in a certain process. In fact, everything must be in the process.
“We all are mentally strong. We're currently in the process. Hopefully, something good will happen. We are not taking extra pressure.”
Bangladesh made a fantastic start to their Asia Cup campaign by recording their biggest away win against Sri Lanka. The islanders suffered another 91-run defeat to Afghanistan after losing to the Tigers in the opening match by 137 runs.
Bangladesh will have revenge on their minds when they meet Afghanistan on September 20. The two teams will meet once again in the Super Four on September 23, irrespective of whoever tops in Group B.
