shakib al hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a key player for Bangladesh in all forms of the game Getty

Bangladesh take on Afghanistan in the first One Day International (ODI) at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on 25 September (Sunday).

Where to watch

Match starts at 9.30am BST. There is no live coverage of the game in the UK.

Overview

Bangladesh have had an impressive couple of years especially in the shorter formats of the game and will want to start the 2016 season in good form too as they host Afghanistan for a short three-match ODI series.

The hosts' improvement in the limited overs format of the game can be gauged by their position on the ICC ODI rankings list where they are currently placed in seventh position with 98 points. That the Bangladeshi Tigers are above traditional giants Pakistan and West Indies on the table shows just how much they have improved over time.

Led by Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh squad have players in Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim who are capable of winning games on their own while their supporting cast of players do not look too bad either.

The hosts have gone in with a strong squad for the ODI series and go into the game as the favourites to win, considering they are playing in home conditions.

Their opponents Afghanistan come into this game full of confidence after beating the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in a tour game on 23 September. Although it was only a tour game, it would have given the team a chance to get a feel of the conditions on offer, especially considering they will have turn and spin that would aid the spinners.

The onus and responsibility of making runs will fall on wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad who is their biggest batting superstar. But if the visitors are to cause an upset, they will need contributions from the whole team.

Prediction

Bangladesh to win

Team news

Bangladesh

Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.

Afghanistan

Squad: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmat Shah, Mirwais Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Fareed Ahmad, Amir Hamza, Najibullah Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Naveen-ul-Haq, Karim Janat, Shabir Noori, Ihsanullah.

Afghanistan