Cricket enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer to witness the much-anticipated clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has disclosed that the senior men’s team’s multi-format tour of Afghanistan has been postponed. Initially slated for July, following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the series will now be conducted at a future date yet to be determined.
The comprehensive tour was set to feature two Test matches, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three T20 International (T20I) games. However, both cricket boards mutually agreed to reschedule, with BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus affirming the decision. In a statement to Cricbuzz, Yunus commented, “The away series against Afghanistan will be rescheduled after both boards agreed to play the series at some other point of time.”
While this development slightly alters Bangladesh’s cricket calendar, the team is currently locked in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on their home soil. After a loss in the opening Test, Bangladesh is striving to level the series with the second Test underway at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
The first Test saw Bangladesh confront a formidable Sri Lankan side, with newly-appointed Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva playing a vital role in securing the win for the visitors. De Silva, captaining in a red-ball match for the first time, showcased his leadership with centuries in both innings—102 and 108—contributing significantly to the team’s triumph. He found ample support in all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, who also notched up impressive centuries in both innings.
Bangladesh’s performance left much to be desired in Sylhet. Without veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, the team struggled to find its footing, falling short in the first innings with a total of 188 and no single player reaching the half-century mark. The second innings proved even more dispiriting for Bangladeshi fans, as five batsmen returned to the pavilion without scoring, facilitating Sri Lanka’s victory by a staggering 328 runs.
The outcome of the match not only brought celebration to the Sri Lankan camp but also had implications on the World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25) rankings. This win elevated Sri Lanka to the sixth position on the WTC points table, while Bangladesh’s loss meant slipping down to seventh. India remains at the top of the rankings with a commanding Points Percentage System (PCT) of 68.51.
As the rescheduling of the Afghanistan series awaits finalization, it’s worth noting other cricketing events that are capturing attention in the realm of international cricket. For instance, South African cricket legend Dale Steyn has offered his congratulations to Keshav Maharaj on the latter’s Indian Premier League (IPL) contract through a heartfelt post. In more developmental conversations, star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has received advice from Steve Smith to ignore crowd abuse, considering personal experiences.
Moreover, as the IPL continues to dominate headlines, Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his support for Hardik Pandya amidst the relentless criticism faced by the cricketer. As these narratives unfold, the cricketing world continues to anticipate the upcoming fixtures, with fans eager to see their favorite teams and players back in action once the revised schedule for the Bangladesh-Afghanistan series is released.
