Speaking to the media before the opener, Bangladesh batter Saif Hassan expressed confidence about their chances.
Saif said the immediate focus is on making a strong start in the first game, which he believes will set the tone for a series victory.
With world-class spinners like Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Ghazanfar in the Afghan lineup, Saif noted that Bangladesh are eager to take on the challenge.
"First things first, if we can start well in the opening match, In Sha Allah the series will be ours too. They have several mystery spinners, and facing them will help us improve going forward. Hopefully, we can cash in on this series," he stated.
Bangladesh will look to play to their strengths against Afghanistan, who are considered evenly matched in the T20 format. However, the Tigers will also draw inspiration from their recent Asia Cup win over the Afghans, a result that boosted team morale.
Reflecting on their preparations, Saif added: "I don’t know how many matches they’ve been winning, but if we can play to our strengths, we can beat any side on a given day. If we work on our strengths and address our weaknesses, In Sha Allah that will take us forward."
One of the biggest positives for Bangladesh in the last Asia Cup was Saif’s consistency at the top of the order. Having scored runs in nearly every game, the opener is determined to continue his form against Afghanistan.
"My job is to perform, and I’ve been doing that. The Asia Cup is over, now my full focus is on the upcoming series against Afghanistan," Saif concluded.
