Tigers sent to bat first against Afghans

Afghanistan have won the toss and asked Bangladesh to bat first at the Rose Bowl in Southampton today.

There are two changes each in both the squads.

For the Tigers, the good news is that pace-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who was replaced by Rubel Hossain in the last match against Australia due to injury, has returned. 

All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, who was also ruled out against Australia with shoulder injury, has also come back, replacing Sabbir Rahman.

The match is taking place on the same ground where India's hugely vaunted batting line-up struggled against Afghanistan’s spin-attack on Saturday.

The Tigers are badly in need of a win against the all-losers Afghans to keep their semifinal dream alive by raising the point tally.

The new Asian cricket force Afghanistan, on the other hand, are set to invest all of their strength in the match as they are yet to get a point in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup.  

Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain , Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman.

Afghanistan XI: Gulbadin Naib(c), Samiullah Shinwari, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil(w), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.