Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi sent Bangladesh into bat first after winning the toss in the three-match ODI series opening game today at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Bangladesh got a Shakib Al Hasan boost after the ace allrounder missed the last ODI against Ireland due to injury.
The hosts also included Afif Hossain, a middle order batter who played his last ODI against England in March. Pacer Taskin Ahmed who missed out away series against Ireland due to injury is back in the side as it was expected.
Rony Talukdar, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Ebadot Hossain were the three players out of the last match.
Afghanistan also had a thing to cherish as the star spinner Rashid Khan returned to the squad after being rested in the one-off test, which Bangladesh won by a record 546-run margin.
The visitors handed debut to pacer Saleem Safi for the only change from their last ODI against Sri Lanka. Gulbadin Naib who was the part of that series that Afghanistan lost by 2-1 was out.
Line Ups:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal(c), Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Saleem Safi.
