Not every game that Afghanistan play do they want a win so desperately.
The cricketers from the war-torn country made their maiden Asia Cup journey with a single game in their mind and today is their day as they face hosts Bangladesh at Fatullah.
Of the four Test-playing countries plying their trade in the tournament, Bangladesh are relatively weaker, but this not the only reason why Afghanistan singled out the Tigers for causing an upset.
The two teams have a bigger clash waiting in the ICC World Twenty20 preliminary round and the Afghans are eager to gain some psychological advantage before that match.
Whatever is in their minds, the Afghans, however, are not prepared to take any extra pressure upon themselves by publicly speaking about targeting Bangladesh.
‘Every game that we play we want to win because we want to show what we are and what the team is right now, Bangladesh and any other team for that matter,’ said Afghan pace bowler Hamid Hasan. ‘If we beat any team it will be a big achievement for us.
‘We already played a few ODIs and are used to international teams and players. If we beat any Test nation it will make us proud. We are playing for 10 years while others are playing for 80 or 70 years,’ said Hamid.
Hamid missed Afghanistan’s Asia Cup debut against Pakistan through injury, but he is expected to be fit for facing the Tigers in the must-win game.
The Afghans made a big statement in their tournament opener stifling the Pakistan top-order with some disciplined bowling before Umar Akmal combined all his talents and experience to hit a century and take the game away.
Despite the 72-run defeat they earned enough respect from the game, which would keep them confident against a depleted Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, already without the injured Tamim Iqbal and the suspended Sakib al Hasan, will also miss the experience of Mashrafee bin Murtaza, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a side strain.
With Mushfiqur Rahim also uncertain to take the field, Bangladesh are set to virtually field a second-string side which will only bolster Afghanistan’s chances.
The Afghans are also keen to make their experience in the Bangladesh domestic cricket count as some of their key players had had a few stints in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament and the Dhaka Premier League.
‘Some of our players played domestic cricket here like [Mohammad] Nabi and Azghar [Stanikzai]. They know the wicket, conditions and the players very well and it will help for [today’s] game,’ said Hamid, who himself represented Barisal Burners in the BPL.
-With New Age input
