Tigers on guard against rust in Afghan ODIs
Bangladesh look to get their new season off to a winning start as they take on Afghanistan in the first of three-match ODI series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. The series is also a chance for the country to shake off the rustiness from the long international break ahead of the much sterner test against England. The home side last played an international match during the ICC World Twenty20 in India in April this year and has played no ODIs since hosting Zimbabwe in November last year. The first match is very vital for us. The first hour is vital for us. It is important that we start well, so the focus is all about winning the first game, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha said ahead of the first ODI.
The main focus is to win three ODIs against another national team. As we are playing after a long time, is a bit of an Achilles Heel for us. That is what we are trying to get over, that uncertainty.
Afghanistan sent Bangladesh a strong message having won the warm-up game by 66 runs and their varied bowling attack did an excellent job to restrict the BCB XI, bolstered by seven players in the main squad, to a paltry total.
Unfazed by the Afghans superlative performance in the practice game, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said if they play to their potential, they would end up winning the game and set the tune for whole series. Both of the teams locked horns twice with the result locked at 1-1. Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 32 runs during the 2014 Asia Cup in their maiden meet. Bangladesh however later took a revenge crushing them by 105 runs during the 2015 World Cup. Afghan captain Asghar Stanikzai however wants to replicate the success what they did in 2014.
