Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

After an Asia Cup filled with missed opportunities, Afghanistan and Bangladesh meet in a T20I series with the opportunity to build momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Rashid Khan’s team, perhaps surprisingly, missed the Super Four stage of the recent multi-nation tournament, losing crucial matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. They also found the going tough at times in the UAE tri-series which preceded the Asia Cup. Will some squad changes bring some much-needed spark?

Also in need of some spark is Bangladesh. Reaching the Super Four stage was a good effort considering they were in a tough group, but failing to chase 136 in a do-or-die match against Pakistan was cause for disappointment. How their batting lineup counters Afghanistan’s spinners will be key in their quest for a series win in Sharjah.

In this article, we will look at the probable playing XIs, Sharjah pitch report, fantasy cricket tips and Dream11 prediction for the 1st T20I between Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

AFG vs BAN 1st T20 2025 Probable Playing XIs

As reported by ESPNcricinfo in September, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat have been left out of Afghanistan’s squad for this series.

Afghanistan could hand a debut to 18-year-old Wafiullah Tarakhil who bats in the top order and has a strike rate of 145.95 after 33 T20s. In the 2025 Shpageeza Cricket League, the youngster scored 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25 and strike rate of 155.20.

On the bowling front, the Afghans have pace options in Abdollah Ahmadzai (right-arm seam) plus left-arm seamers Bashir Ahmad and Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Afghanistan: 1. Sediqullah Atal, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Wafiullah Tarakhil, 4. Ibrahim Zadran, 5. Azmatullah Omarzai, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Darwish Rasooli/Sharafuddin Ashraf, 8. Rashid Khan (c), 9. Noor Ahmad, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Abdollah Ahmadzai, 11. Bashir Ahmad/Fareed Ahmad Malik

For Bangladesh, Litton Das is out of the series due to a side strain. Jaker Ali will lead the team.

Soumya Sarkar is in the squad and could find a place in the XI. Bangladesh may also look to play spin-bowling all-rounders including Mahedi Hasan to support Rishad Hossain.

Bangladesh: 1. Saif Hassan, 2. Parvez Hossain Emon/Tanzid Hasan, 3. Soumya Sarkar, 4. Towhid Hridoy, 5. Mahedi Hasan, 6. Shamim Hossain, 7. Jaker Ali (c & wk), 8. Rishad Hossain, 9. Taskin Ahmed, 10. Tanzim Hasan Sakib/Nasum Ahmed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

In the recent Tri-Series featuring UAE, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the average first innings score was 175.43. The team batting first won all seven matches.

Spin played a key role in the final as Pakistan rolled Afghanistan for just 66. Pakistan themselves fought hard to reach 141/8.

A hot and clear evening is forecast.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for AFG vs BAN 1st T20: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz has struggled for form recently but is the best keeper option in Dream11 for this match. Gurbaz averages just 16.11 in nine T20Is against Bangladesh, although he did hit a 30+ score against them in the Asia Cup.

Key batter picks:

• Saif Hassan, picked in 70.99% of Dream11 teams, has struck two half-centuries in his past three T20Is. He may also be asked to contribute with the ball.
• Ibrahim Zadran has the most runs (535) in T20Is at Sharjah at an average of 36.55 and strike rate of 112.86. Also, Zadran has performed better when batting first in T20Is this year (201 runs, avg. 40.2, SR 133.1) compared to batting second (23 runs, avg. 7.7, SR 60.5).

Top all-rounder picks:

• Azmatullah Omarzai is a genuine c/vc option in this match. He had the best strike rate of any player in the recent Asia Cup (217.07). Also, Omarzai has taken nine wickets in six innings against Bangladesh, along with 118 runs. He has some good matchups (see matchups section below).
• SPODA AI data lists Mohammad Nabi as a strong captaincy option in this match. He smashed 60 off 22 balls in his last match against Sri Lanka. Also, Bangladesh have numerous left-handers Nabi could be useful against.
• Rishad Hossain has taken two wickets in each of his past three T20Is (2/18 vs Afghanistan, 2/27 vs India, 2/18 vs Pakistan).

Key bowler picks:

• Rashid Khan will be looking to make a statement following the Asia Cup. He takes a wicket every 11.50 deliveries against Bangladesh (24 wickets, avg. 10.75). Also, SPODA AI data gives a 46.81% probability that he will take 2+ wickets – the highest of any bowler in this match.
• Mustafizur Rahman will be key in Sharjah. He has a good head-to-head record against Rahmanullah Gurbaz in all T20s (47 balls, 46 runs, two wickets). SPODA AI Data gives a 38.14% probability that he will take 2+ wickets.
• Taskin Ahmed has seven wickets in five T20Is against Afghanistan (avg. 18.57, SR 16.28). Two of these wickets have been Rahmanullah Gurbaz at an average of 15.00 and batting strike rate of just 83.3.

Other Players to Consider for your Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Nasum Ahmed won man of the match in the Asia Cup game against Afghanistan (2/11). He dismissed Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran.
• Mahedi Hasan can be a handy pick, especially if selected to bat higher up the order for Bangladesh.
• Noor Ahmad has taken nine wickets in his past six T20Is, including 2/23 vs Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.

Other Stats, Facts and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head in T20Is: Matches 13, Afghanistan 7, Bangladesh 6.
• Bangladesh have won three of the last four T20Is against Afghanistan since the start of 2023.
• Ibrahim Zadran (535), Mohammad Nabi (492) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (484) are the top three run-scorers in T20Is at Sharjah.
• Azmatullah Omarzai vs Soumya Sarkar in all T20s: 13 balls, 10 runs, two wickets.
• Azmatullah Omarzai vs Towhid Hridoy in all T20s: 28 balls, 30 runs, three wickets.
• Mohammad Nabi vs Bangladesh: 235 runs (avg. 26.11, SR 116.91) and five wickets (avg. 40.40, SR 40.80).
• Towhid Hridoy vs Afghanistan: 4 inns, 106 runs, avg. 35.33, SR 135.89.

AFG vs BAN 1st T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

AFG vs BAN 1st T20 2025 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Batting first could prove vital in this match. This could be especially important for Afghanistan, who are usually strong when setting a score. SPODA AI Data gives Afghanistan a 54% chance of winning if they bat first, which increases to 67% if they reach 180.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.