The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 got underway on October 5th in Ahmedabad, opening with an exciting match between England and New Zealand. The Black Caps delivered an impressive victory against the reigning champions, making a strong statement about their potential to claim the title. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are set to clash at the picturesque HPCA Stadium located in Dharamsala.
Starting the tournament with a win is crucial for both teams, and they are well-acquainted with each other’s capabilities and vulnerabilities due to their recent regular cricket matches. The game kicked off after Bangladeshi captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to have Afghanistan bat first.
Earlier today, Afghanistan managed to capitalize on the early struggles faced by the Bangladesh pacers. However, despite a strong opening partnership, they faltered and were all out for a mere 156 runs. What initially looked like a promising start at 112/2 quickly turned into a dramatic collapse within just 38 overs, mainly due to poor shot choices.
With the pace bowlers failing to make an impact, the Bangladesh captain decided to take matters into his own hands and introduced himself into the attack in the eighth over. It proved to be a wise move as Shakib Al Hasan lured Ibrahim Zadran into a slog sweep that resulted in a top-edge dismissal. The introduction of spin from both ends effectively stemmed the flow of runs, and Shakib struck again by dismissing Rahmat Shah in a similar fashion.
While Rahmanullah Gurbaz found relief in the return of pace and managed to break free with a boundary off Shoriful Islam, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, faced difficulties during his brief innings, particularly when facing Mehidy Hasan Miraz. After scoring just 3 runs off the 22 balls he faced from the offspinner, Shahidi attempted to take him on by stepping down the track, only to lose his wicket after a painstaking 18 off 38 deliveries. This collapse, resulting in the loss of 4 wickets for just 14 runs, unfolded in a mere 32 balls.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s brilliant all-round show (3-25 & 57), Shakib al Hasan’s 3-30 and Najmul Shanto’s 58* in the run-chase helped Bangladesh kickstart their 2023 ODI World Cup campaign with an impressive six-wicket over Afghanistan in Dharamsala.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim join elite list of cricketers to feature in 5 or more ODI World Cups
Both Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, with their inclusion in the playing XI, have now become part of an exclusive group of cricketers who have competed in five or more Cricket ODI World Cup competitions. This represents the sixth appearance for these Bangladeshi stalwarts, with their World Cup odyssey began in 2007. Alongside them, there are 17 other players in cricket history who share this incredible feat.
Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad remain the only two players to boast an astonishing record of six World Cup appearances each. Among Bangladesh’s cricketing stars, Shakib Al Hasan stands as the standout performance on the global arena. In the ODI World Cups, he has graced the field in 30 matches, scoring a magnificent 1146 runs at an average of 45.84. His achievements were particularly remarkable during the 2019 World Cup, as he stood out as one of the top run-scorers.
Shakib’s flexibility applies to his bowling skills as well, as he has chalked up 37 wickets. This accomplishment positions him as the third-highest wicket-taker among the currently active cricketers in the World Cup circuit.
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