Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Prediction

If AFG Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 225

Afghanistan's batting is going to rely heavily on Mohammad Shahzad who has been their best batsman in recent times and provided them with ideal starts on many occasions. The opener struck two fifties in the last ODI series against Ireland and is likely to top-score on Sunday. Mohammad Nabi has scored the most runs for Afghanistan in ODIs and he will be a key member in the middle order. The visitors will need these two to be at their best if they are to post a total in excess of 225.

The Bangladeshi seam attack will be headed by seasoned campaigner Mashrafe Mortaza. The fast bowler has impressive figures of 74 wickets from 51 matches at the Shere Bangla and he will be backed by the team for providing the early breakthroughs. Shakib Al Hasan will be the main threat among the spinners. The allrounder is the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh at this ground and is just two wickets away from becoming the leading wicket-taker for his team in ODIs. So we expect him to be the top bowler for his side. Afghanistan will find themselves in trouble if these two Bangladeshi bowlers are on top of their game.

BAN vs AFG Head-to-Head in ODIs

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have gone head-to-head in only two one-day internationals in the past and the record between these two sides stands at 1-1. The first of them was played in Bangladesh in 2014 which Afghanistan won by 32 runs. Bangladesh then hit back hard with a 105-run win in the 2015 ICC World Cup held in Australia.

The two teams have never met in an ODI at the Shere Bangla National Stadium before.

Our Prediction

Bangladesh have been in a scintillating form in the 50-overs format especially at home. Over the last year or so, they have played five bilateral ODI series - two against Zimbabwe and one each against Pakistan, India and South Africa - and have won all of them. They had even ousted England from the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia by beating them in a group match. At Shere Bangla, they have won 12 and lost just 2 of their previous 14 ODI outings. However, the overall record for Bangladesh here is not too great for a home ground - 36 wins and 41 losses from 78 matches with a win percentage of 46.75.

Afghanistan too have had encouraging results in the past. They have played four bilateral ODI series away from home since last year and have not lost any of them. They played two 5-match series against Zimbabwe, one in Zimbabwe and the other in the UAE, and won both the series 3-2. They next toured Scotland and Ireland this year and while they beat Scotland 1-0 in a 2-match series, they drew the 5-match series 2-2 against Ireland. Afghanistan are yet to win an ODI at the Shere Bangla. They have played two matches here facing defeats in both of them.

Afghanistan are making rapid strides in limited overs cricket and the way they have progressed, a good fight can be expected from them on this tour. But since Bangladesh have been outstanding at home, we feel they are strong favorites to win this first one-day international.