Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey

Afghanistan v Bangladesh: 5 key talking points. AFG vs BAN: 5 key talking points from their 2019 Cricket World Cup match.

A week ago, the neutral fan may have not believed the Afghanistan vs Bangladesh clash would have been significant enough to pay a lot of attention to.

However, it was mighty crucial. Bangladesh had to win. Sri Lanka’s incredible win over England gave them a chance to get closer to the top four. They took it. Also, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan is one of world cricket’s fledgling rivalries, with eight ODIs now split 5-3 Bangladesh’s way.

Here are five key talking points from the result that put England under additional pressure for their game against Australia.

1. Super Shakib continues to amaze

The question of who Bangladesh’s best ever cricketer is was settled over a decade ago. Shakib Al Hasan took off in 2008, producing a number of incredible all-round performances. A future star had well and truly arrived.

11 years later, even with all the great achievements in between, Shakib finds himself in career-best form. He became the first cricketer in history to achieve 400+ runs and 10 wickets in a single World Cup edition, as well as the second after Yuvraj Singh to take a five wicket haul and score a half-century in the same World Cup match. His remarkable performances in this tournament so far has everyone taking notice around the world, but those following him closely over the years know just how good he is. However, could we ever think he would be THIS good?

In this game, he batted patiently on a difficult surface. He then knew how to bowl on it, ending up on top in the battle of the spinners. At the end of it all, he walked off the field having achieved some incredible feats that you can check out here. An incredible performance from an incredible player.

Also read: Twitterati hails Shakib Al Hasan after yet another magnificent performance

2. Bangladesh showed maturity that has eluded them over the years

Bangladesh’s batting performance, wrongly criticised by media correspondent Mohammad Isam, set the game up beautifully.

Faced with a slow, turning track, Bangladesh knew early that this was not a 300 pitch. India found that out two days earlier. However, where Bangladesh upstaged India was in the middle overs, rotating the strike beautifully and not getting bored of sticking to the plan.

Mushfiqur Rahim deserves significant praise. As do Shakib, Mahmudullah and Mossadek for their efforts with the bat. However, Mushfiqur Rahim, if not for the freakish feats of Shakib, would have won man of the match. Bangladesh were tottering at the fall of Soumya Sarkar’s wicket. The next partnership could decide Bangladesh’s fate in CWC 2019. Mushfiqur’s approach reflected a mature Bangladesh side, eliminating the recklessness on display by Bangladesh in the past en route to 83 at nearly a run-a-ball against an excellent spin attack on a slow pitch. It proved to be a match winning knock.

3. Afghanistan get it wrong at the toss

A key tip any cricketer is taught is to choose the option the opposition don’t want you to.

There is no doubt Bangladesh would have been happy to bat first. With both sides possessing key spin options, it made sense to get runs on the board and then look to squeeze the opposition with spin on a wearing track. So, it was a surprise to see Afghanistan choose to bowl after winning the toss, even with the possibility of a little rain during the day. They were perhaps also caught up in how things went against India, nearly chasing down 225 after a fine bowling effort. They looked to repeat it here, but conceded 30-40 more than they would have liked. Costly.

4. Afghanistan’s fielding a let down yet again

Dawlat Zadran’s embarrassing drop in the last over summed it up. Yet another fielding effort filled with misfields and mistakes cost Afgjanistan dearly. A big reason why they conceded 20-30 more than they would have liked was because of their sloppy fielding.

Skipper Gulbadin Naib expressed his frustration after the match. Afghanistan don’t possess the batting quality or consistency of other sides. But, one area you can compete in is fielding, which is an area Afghanistan must work on after CWC 2019 to be competitive against the higher-ranked teams.

5. Out with the Sabbir, in with the Mosaddek

Sabbir Rahman is technically gifted. Bangladesh had big aspirations for his future, keeping the faith in him as a potential finisher. However, as often the case with Bangladesh players, it didn’t materialise.

Mosaddek Hossain is also a player of immense promise. The key difference though is he is delivering, proving to be a fine finisher for Bangladesh at number seven. There is not much of him, but he can strike a cricket ball, as displayed in his incredible 27-ball 52 to seal the recent Ireland Tri-Series for Bangladesh. Here, he was excellent, playing a crucial cameo of 35 off 24 balls, filled with beautiful strokeplay to elevate Bangladesh over 250.

However, with the recent news that Mahmudullah sustained a calf tear, both may be needed.

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