Rubel draws first blood
Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all set to lock horns in the first T20I of a three-match series at Dehradun. The newly promoted Test playing nation are sitting two places ahead of tenth-placed Bangladesh in the ICC T20I Rankings.
This is going to be first international fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and all three matches will be played here, which will be the second home base for Afghanistan after Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.
Bangladesh have opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Abul Hasan has returned to the Bangladesh T20I-side six years after playing his last game in the shortest format in the ICC World T20 in 2012.
Afghanistan started well and didn’t lose any wicket during the powerplay. However, a 62-run opening partnership has come to an end as Rubel Hossain bowled out Usman Ghani on 26.
Mohammad Shahzad and Azgar Stanikzai are now on the crease and will look to capitalize on the start they have got. Shahzad has scored 31 off 28 so far.
Score:
AFG 64/1 (9.0 Overs)
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Abul Hasan, Abu Jayed
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad(w), Usman Ghani, Asghar Stanikzai(c), Shafiqullah Shafiq, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Karim Janat, Shapoor Zadran
