Abu Dhabi: Bangladesh held their nerve to defeat Afghanistan by eight runs in a thrilling Group B clash of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Tuesday.
Chasing 155, Afghanistan were bowled out for 146 despite late fireworks from Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan. The innings began poorly when Sediqullah Atal was trapped lbw by Nasum Ahmed off the first ball, and Ibrahim Zadran (5) soon followed after a failed review. Gulbadin Naib (16) and Mohammad Nabi (15) offered resistance, but spinners Nasum Ahmed (2/11) and Rishad Hossain (2/18) kept the run flow in check.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz kept Afghanistan alive with a fluent 35 off 31 balls, striking two sixes and as many fours, before holing out to Jaker Ali off Rishad at 10.2 overs. Nabi briefly countered with a six over long-on, but Mustafizur Rahman dismissed him with a cross-seamer in the 13th over.
Azmatullah Omarzai then lifted Afghan hopes, smashing three sixes in a 16-ball 30, including a massive 99-metre pull off Taskin Ahmed. However, Taskin struck back at 15.4, having Omarzai caught at backward point by Saif Hassan — a moment that swung the game.
Rashid Khan produced a dazzling cameo, unleashing a no-look flick for a six and adding two crisp fours between overs 16 and 18. But Mustafizur hit back at 18.2 with a clever slower ball to dismiss him, and struck again off the very next delivery when AM Ghazanfar edged to Litton Das, creating a hat-trick opportunity.
The finish was tense. Noor Ahmad launched Taskin for two towering sixes in the 19th over — one just clearing Rishad at long-on — keeping net run-rate in mind. However, Taskin held firm, and Mustafizur (3/28) sealed victory with the final wicket on the last ball, leaving Afghanistan eight short.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 154 for five after opting to bat. Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a brisk 52 off 31 balls, Saif Hassan added 30, and Towhid Hridoy made 26. Nurul Hasan’s unbeaten 12 provided a late flourish.
Rashid Khan (2/26) and Noor Ahmad (2/28) were the pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers, but their efforts were undone by Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, including Nurul Hasan’s stunning stop that led to Karim Janat’s run-out.
The win kept Bangladesh’s tournament hopes firmly on track, while Afghanistan now face a must-win situation in their final group match against Sri Lanka to stay in contention.
