Afghanistan vs Bangladesh predictions: Gurbaz to maintain his run-fest
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 238 runs are the most by any batter in the T20 World Cup
- Gurbaz has been Afghanistan’s top run scorer in three of their six games
- Recommended bet: Rahmanullah Gurbaz top Afghanistan run scorer
Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest wins in their country’s cricketing history when beating Australia last time out to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup alive.
They need to beat Bangladesh and hope that Australia do not get the better of India to progress, while the Tigers could also still theoretically reach the last four with a win here, but they would need a big net run rate swing to go their way after disappointing losses to both Australia and India.
After Afghanistan’s finest hour, they will have to go again and make the most of that success by beating Bangladesh, although the Tigers have won the last five head-to-heads between these two teams in all formats.
Team news
Afghanistan will be grateful to be playing at the same venue where they recorded their famous victory over Australia last time out and they are likely to go in unchanged for this game.
Bangladesh may also opt for the same XI despite their struggles with the bat, with few options available to make too much of a difference.
The stats
Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have more runs between them, 449, than the rest of their team combined in the tournament so far.
Afghan left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi has the most wickets of any bowler in the T20 World Cup at the time of writing, 15.
Leg-spinnerTanzim Hasan Sakib has an average of 10.27 from the 11 wickets he has taken for Bangladesh at the competition.
Only one Bangladesh batter, Shakib Al Hasan, has made a half-century at the tournament.
Prediction
Afghanistan pulled off an impressive victory over Australia to keep their Super 8 group wide open.
Key to their efforts throughout the tournament has been opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who has hit 238 runs at an average of 39.66 and a strike rate of 141.66.
He has top scored for his country in three of their six outings and looks a rock-solid favourite to do so once more against a Tigers side who have lost two in a row and who are out of contention for a semi-final spot.
