Bangladesh looking for clean sweep

Two wins in the first two One-Day Internationals have already given Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Afghanistan, but there is no room for complacency as they want to grab all 30 points of the ICC World Cup Super League with a third win and a clean-sweep on Monday.

Bangladesh had a nervy start to the series as they needed youngsters Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz to rescue them in the first match, but returned to their own self at home in the second as they won by 88 runs.

In the third match, they will look to perfect their game to strengthen their position at the top of the Super League points table. The Tigers are currently at the top with 100 points, with England following them at second with 95.

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the player of the match for the first match, told the media on Sunday that there was no room for complacency among them.

“What is more important than winning the series is the 10 points of the Super League. Our target is those points. There may be bigger challenges in the future. But if we can take these 10 points, things will be easier for us going ahead,” he said.

In May 2021, Bangladesh had sealed their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at home with a game in hand and then went on to lose the third match and 10 points.

Miraz said that there were no ghosts of that series chasing them.

“We haven’t talked about it. It’s a negative thought. We are thinking positively about tomorrow’s (Monday) match. We will try to give our 100 per cent,” the all-rounder said,

Bangladesh are unlikely to bring in any changes from their winning combination, whereas Afghanistan may bring in Ibrahim Alikhil instead of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was injured during the second match.

The match will start at 11 AM on Monday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.