bangladesh national cricket team vs afghanistan national cricket team timeline
Introduction to Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline
Cricket has grown into one of the most exciting sports in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, with both nations making their mark on the international stage. The Bangladesh national cricket team and the Afghanistan national cricket team have developed a competitive rivalry over the years, producing some thrilling encounters. This article presents a detailed timeline of their clashes, highlighting significant matches, key performances, and historical moments.
Table of Contents
The Rise of Two Cricketing Nations
Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have experienced rapid growth in cricket over the last two decades. Bangladesh became a Test-playing nation in 2000, whereas Afghanistan achieved this status in 2017. Their matches have been a spectacle of passion, talent, and determination.
The head-to-head battles between these two nations have seen a mix of ODIs, T20Is, and Test matches. Here, we take a deep dive into the timeline of their cricketing encounters.
Early Encounters: The Beginning of a Rivalry (2014-2016)
2014: First ODI Meeting – Asia Cup Showdown
- Match Date: March 1, 2014
- Tournament: Asia Cup 2014 (ODI)
- Venue: Fatullah, Bangladesh
- Result: Afghanistan won by 32 runs
This was the first-ever official One Day International (ODI) match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Afghanistan shocked the cricket world by securing a stunning victory over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.
Key Highlights:
- Afghanistan scored 254/6, thanks to a brilliant 90-run knock by Asghar Afghan.
- Bangladesh was bowled out for 222 as Shapoor Zadran took 3 wickets.
- This victory marked Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI win over a Test-playing nation.
2015: First T20I Encounter – Bangladesh Dominates
- Match Date: February 9, 2015
- Tournament: ICC Cricket World Cup Warm-Up Match
- Venue: Canberra, Australia
- Result: Bangladesh won by 9 wickets
Although this was a warm-up match, it gave Bangladesh the upper hand in their rivalry.
Key Highlights:
- Afghanistan was bowled out for 160, with Mashrafe Mortaza leading the attack.
- Tamim Iqbal scored 81 runs to guide Bangladesh to an easy victory.
2016: ICC T20 World Cup – Bangladesh Edges Past Afghanistan
- Match Date: March 9, 2016
- Tournament: ICC T20 World Cup 2016
- Venue: Dharamsala, India
- Result: Bangladesh won by 8 runs
Key Highlights:
- Bangladesh set a target of 156, with Mahmudullah scoring 29 off 17 balls*.
- Afghanistan fought hard but fell short, finishing at 146/6.
- Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round performance played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s victory.
Afghanistan’s Emergence as a Strong Contender (2018-2020)
2018: Afghanistan Dominates Bangladesh in T20I Series
- Series: T20I Series in India
- Result: Afghanistan won the series 3-0
Afghanistan completely outplayed Bangladesh in this T20I series held in Dehradun, India.
Key Highlights:
- Rashid Khan took 8 wickets in the series, proving his dominance.
- Hazratullah Zazai’s explosive batting troubled Bangladesh.
- Afghanistan’s 3-0 clean sweep marked a turning point in their rivalry.
2018: Asia Cup – Another Afghanistan Victory
- Match Date: September 20, 2018
- Tournament: Asia Cup 2018
- Venue: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Result: Afghanistan won by 136 runs
Key Highlights:
- Afghanistan posted a huge total of 255/7.
- Rashid Khan’s all-round performance (57* and 2 wickets) was the match’s highlight.
- Bangladesh was bowled out for just 119, facing a massive defeat.
2019: Bangladesh Bounces Back in the ICC World Cup
- Match Date: June 24, 2019
- Tournament: ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
- Venue: Southampton, England
- Result: Bangladesh won by 62 runs
Key Highlights:
- Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round brilliance (51 runs & 5 wickets) secured Bangladesh’s win.
- Afghanistan struggled against spin, managing only 200 runs in their chase.
- This victory restored Bangladesh’s dominance in ODIs.
Test Cricket Rivalry Begins (2019-Present)
2019: Afghanistan Stuns Bangladesh in Test Cricket
- Match Date: September 5-9, 2019
- Tournament: One-off Test Match
- Venue: Chattogram, Bangladesh
- Result: Afghanistan won by 224 runs
This was Afghanistan’s second Test victory, and it came in dominant fashion against Bangladesh.
Key Highlights:
- Rahmat Shah scored Afghanistan’s first-ever Test century.
- Rashid Khan’s 11-wicket haul stunned Bangladesh.
- This was one of Bangladesh’s worst Test defeats at home.
Recent Battles and Growing Intensity (2021-Present)
2022: Bangladesh Seals a Crucial ODI Series Victory
- Series: ODI Series in Bangladesh
- Result: Bangladesh won the series 2-1
Key Highlights:
- Liton Das scored a century in the deciding match.
- Mehidy Hasan’s match-winning all-round performance helped Bangladesh win the series.
2023: Afghanistan’s Strong Comeback in ODIs
- Series: ODI Series in Bangladesh
- Result: Afghanistan won the series 2-1
Afghanistan won their first-ever ODI series against Bangladesh in 2023.
Key Highlights:
- Ibrahim Zadran’s batting brilliance led Afghanistan to victory.
- Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi troubled Bangladesh’s batsmen.
- Afghanistan’s dominance in ODIs signaled a power shift in their rivalry.
Conclusion: A Fierce and Unpredictable Rivalry
The Bangladesh vs Afghanistan cricket rivalry has grown into one of the most exciting contests in world cricket. Both teams have exchanged victories, with Afghanistan proving to be a tough competitor in recent years.
Key Takeaways from Their Timeline:
- Afghanistan has improved significantly and now poses a serious challenge.
- Bangladesh still holds an edge in ODIs, but Afghanistan is catching up.
- T20 matches between these two teams are highly competitive.
- Test cricket battles are expected to become more intense in the coming years.
With both teams showcasing immense talent and passion, cricket fans can expect more thrilling encounters in the future.
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