Bangladesh asks Afghanistan to bat first in T20 series-opener

SYLHET, Bangladesh: Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and asked Afghanistan to bat first in the two-match Twenty20 series-opener on Friday. Despite previous worries over rain, the match started on schedule. Bangladesh beat T20 world champion England 3-0 and Ireland 2-1 in this format but comes into the game after losing 2-1 in a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Bangladesh avoided being swept by winning the final ODI in Chattogram. The hosts made two changes from its last T20 game against Ireland, which they lost by seven wickets, with left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman and allrounder Mehidy Hasan replacing fast bowler Hasan Mahmud and legspinner Rishad Ahmed. Afghanistan is in confident mood, following its T20 series win over Pakistan and its first ODI series win against Bangladesh. The visitors brought back Hazratullah Zazai from its previous T20 game against Pakistan, replacing Sediqullah Atal.

Lineups: Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (captain), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Bangladesh: Litton Das, Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.