Bangladesh secured a narrow eight-run victory over Afghanistan in the ninth match of the T20 Asia Cup 2025, at Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 24NewsHD TV reported.
Batting first, Bangladesh posted 154 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Opener Tanzid Hasan led the innings with a composed 52, while Saif Hasan added 30 and Towhid Hridoy contributed 26 runs.
Chasing 155 for victory, Afghanistan fell short despite promising starts from several batters.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 35, while Omarzai added 30.
Skipper Rashid Khan struck 20, Gulbadin Naib scored 16, and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi contributed 15 runs.
However, regular dismissals halted momentum as Afghanistan were bowled out for 146 in the final over.
Noor Ahmad (14) and Karim Janat (6) could not carry the chase forward, while Ibrahim Zadran managed only 5.
The lower order collapsed quickly, with Sediqullah Atal and Ghazanfar dismissed without scoring, leaving Fazalhaq Farooqi stranded on 2 not out.
Bangladesh’s bowlers delivered under pressure, with Mustafizur Rahman leading the attack by claiming three wickets.
Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, and Taskin Ahmed chipped in with two wickets each, effectively sealing the victory in the closing stages.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh compiled 154 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs, putting a challenging total on the board against a strong Afghan bowling attack.
Bangladesh’s innings was anchored by Tanzid Hasan, who top-scored with a well-crafted 52, providing the stability his team needed.
He was supported by Saif Hassan, who struck 30 runs, while Towhid Hridoy contributed a steady 26.
Shamim Hossain chipped in with 11, and skipper Liton Das fell cheaply after managing just 9 runs.
In the closing overs, Noorul Hasan and Jaker Ali played useful cameos, each remaining unbeaten on 12, helping Bangladesh push their score to a competitive total.
Afghanistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Star spinner Rashid Khan and young left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad each picked up two wickets, while Azmatullah Omarzai claimed one to restrict Bangladesh’s progress.
Earlier, Afghanistan captain, Rashid Khan, said, "I would have liked to bat first, but in T20s, it doesn't really matter. The guys had three days off and we had a good practice session. Our strength is our bowling, especially our spin attack. We need to bowl well as a unit and consistently hit the right spots."
Bangladesh captain, Litton Das said "We've decided to bat first. The whole team is excited for this game, as it's a must-win for us. The pitch looks a little slow, so a total of 160 should be a good score."
Playing XIs
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed