Asia Cup 2025

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 9th Match Asia Cup 2025

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
08:00 PM IST
Bangladesh Cricket

Bangladesh

vs
Afganistan cricket

Afganistan

🏏 Match Prediction

The 9th match of the Asia Cup 2025 sees Bangladesh (BAN) take on Afghanistan (AFG) at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Check pitch report, probable XIs, key players, and winning chances in our BAN vs AFG Asia Cup 2025 match prediction.

Bangladesh, under the captaincy of Litton Das, come into this clash with a mix of young batting firepower and experienced bowlers. Top-order names like Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy provide aggression, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed bring depth to the pace attack. Shakib’s absence puts more responsibility on the younger all-rounders like Mahedi Hasan.

Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, rely on their dynamic openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to give them a solid start. Their spin-heavy attack, featuring Rashid, Noor Ahmad, and Nabi, makes them a dangerous side on UAE pitches. Azmatullah Omarzai’s explosive batting form adds an extra edge.

📌 If Bangladesh Bat First

  • Expected Total: 150–165 (T20 format)
  • Key Batters: Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy
  • Key Afghanistan Bowlers: Fazalhaq Farooqi (new ball), Rashid Khan (middle overs)
  • Strategic Insight: Bangladesh’s top order must survive Rashid Khan’s spin test in the middle overs. If Litton anchors the innings, BAN can post 160+.

📌 If Afghanistan Bat First

  • Expected Total: 155–170
  • Key Batters: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai
  • Key Bangladesh Bowlers: Taskin Ahmed (powerplay), Mustafizur Rahman (death overs)
  • Strategic Insight: Afghanistan’s openers need to counter Bangladesh’s pace early. A 160+ score could put Bangladesh under serious pressure.

🎯 Winning Probability – Asia Cup 2025 Prediction

  • Bangladesh (BAN): 54%
  • Afghanistan (AFG): 46%

👉 According to our BAN vs AFG Asia Cup 2025 prediction, Bangladesh start as slight favorites due to their experienced pace attack and batting depth. However, Afghanistan’s explosive batting and world-class spinners make them equally capable of pulling off an upset in Abu Dhabi.

Our betting tips for this match
🏏 Top Batsman: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) (~3.6 odds) – Afghanistan’s explosive opener has been in red-hot form and can change the game in the powerplay. His ability to clear boundaries consistently makes him the safest batting pick.
🎯 Top Bowler: Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) (~4.1 odds) – The left-arm pacer thrives on UAE pitches with his cutters and variations. He is expected to strike in the death overs and limit Afghanistan’s big hitters.
⚡ Top All-Rounder: Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) (~4.0 odds) – Fresh off a record-breaking 20-ball fifty, Omarzai offers impact in both departments. His seam bowling and finishing power with the bat make him a high-value fantasy and betting choice.

🧾 BAN vs AFG Probable Playing XI

Afghanistan (AFG):
Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Bangladesh (BAN):
Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

📊 Match Analytics

Bangladesh (BAN)

Strengths:

  • Experienced pace attack with Mustafizur Rahman & Taskin Ahmed, supported by Shoriful/Tanzim Hasan.
  • Litton Das provides stability as opener and captain.
  • Young talents like Towhid Hridoy & Rishad Hossain add depth in batting & spin.

⚠️ Weaknesses:

  • Middle order has been inconsistent under pressure.
  • Over-reliance on Litton Das for anchoring innings.
  • Lack of an experienced all-rounder (Shakib’s absence feels big).

Key Players to Watch: Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan (AFG)

Strengths:

  • Explosive openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz & Ibrahim Zadran can dominate powerplay.
  • World-class spin attack with Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi.
  • Azmatullah Omarzai provides strong all-round balance.

⚠️ Weaknesses:

  • Middle order can collapse if openers fail.
  • Pace attack heavily dependent on Fazalhaq Farooqi.
  • Rashid Khan’s workload as captain & strike bowler could impact decision-making.

Key Players to Watch: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai

📌 Overall Insight:

  • Bangladesh will rely on pace & experience.
  • Afghanistan’s spin attack could be the game-changer on Abu Dhabi’s dry pitch.
  • Powerplay battle (Taskin vs Gurbaz) and middle-over spin test (Rashid vs BAN batters) will decide the outcome.

🌍 Pitch Report & Weather Conditions

The Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi offers a balanced surface where both batters and bowlers get opportunities. Early on, pacers can extract swing with the new ball, but as the game progresses, spinners come into play on the dry surface. Batting becomes easier under lights, especially with dew assisting the chasing side.

  • Average 1st Innings Score (T20s): 155–165 runs
  • Pitch Nature: Balanced – batting-friendly with spin assistance in middle overs
  • Pace vs Spin: Pacers effective in powerplay & death overs, spinners control the middle phase
  • Weather: Clear skies in Abu Dhabi 🌤, no rain expected. Dew factor likely to make chasing advantageous.

📌 Toss Impact: Teams generally prefer to bowl first here due to the dew factor.

🎯 Key Player Matchups & Impact Players

🔑 Key Player Matchups

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Taskin Ahmed – A powerplay battle where Taskin’s pace will test Gurbaz’s attacking intent.
  • Litton Das vs Fazalhaq Farooqi – Bangladesh’s skipper faces Afghanistan’s left-arm swing threat early on.
  • Towhid Hridoy vs Rashid Khan – A crucial middle-over contest that could shift momentum.
  • Azmatullah Omarzai vs Mustafizur Rahman – Finisher vs death-over specialist; likely to decide the closing overs.

🌟 Impact Players

Bangladesh (BAN):

  • Litton Das – Anchorman at the top; BAN’s batting revolves around him.
  • Taskin Ahmed – Pace spearhead who can provide early breakthroughs.
  • Mustafizur Rahman – Master of cutters in Abu Dhabi conditions, key in death overs.

Afghanistan (AFG):

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Explosive wicketkeeper-batter; a quickfire knock can tilt the match.
  • Rashid Khan – Skipper & strike bowler, controls middle overs and adds batting depth.
  • Azmatullah Omarzai – In red-hot form with bat and ball; Afghanistan’s game-changer.

💸 Fantasy Cricket Tips & Captaincy Choices

📌 Must-Have Picks

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) – Explosive wicketkeeper-batter, capable of quick 40+ starts.
  • Litton Das (BAN) – Skipper and anchor, crucial for BAN’s batting stability.
  • Rashid Khan (AFG) – World-class spinner, consistent wicket-taker in UAE conditions.
  • Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) – All-rounder in form; points from both bat & ball.
  • Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) – Death-over specialist; key for fantasy bowling points.

👑 Captaincy & Vice-Captaincy Choices (C/VC)

  • Captain (C): Rashid Khan / Rahmanullah Gurbaz
  • Vice-Captain (VC): Litton Das / Azmatullah Omarzai

🏏 Fantasy Team Combination Suggestion

  • Batters: 2–3
  • All-rounders: 2–3
  • Bowlers: 3–4
  • Wicketkeeper: 1 (Gurbaz or Litton Das)

💡 Balanced teams with 2 all-rounders (Nabi/Omarzai + Mahedi Hasan) and at least 2 frontline pacers are recommended for Abu Dhabi conditions.