In an exciting curtain-raiser for the 2023 World Cup, two Asian cricketing powerhouses, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, are set to face each other at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This match marks the beginning of the marquee event for both teams and will be the first doubleheader of the tournament. As it’s the inaugural match of the day, the action is scheduled to commence at 10:30 AM IST.
Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan recently participated in the Asia Cup, where their performances varied. Afghanistan narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Super Fours due to a slight miscalculation in chasing a total within the stipulated overs. In contrast, Bangladesh advanced to the next stage.
The warm-up matches leading up to the World Cup have provided valuable preparation for the Bangladesh Tigers. They secured an initial victory against Sri Lanka but faced a tough battle against England in their second encounter, ending in defeat. Afghanistan, on the other hand, couldn’t compete in their warm-up game against South Africa due to inclement weather but made a strong statement by defeating the Lankan Lions in their recent assignment.
Both teams, however, enter this match on a streak of unsuccessful official matches. Bangladesh has lost two consecutive games, while Afghanistan hasn’t registered a win in their last six ODIs. These two teams will be meeting for the fifth time in just three months, with a balanced 2-2 record in their previous four encounters earlier this year. However, this will be their first face-off on Indian soil. Neither Afghanistan nor Bangladesh have played an ODI at the HPCA Stadium, which has hosted only four one-day international matches since its establishment in 2003.
Former Zimbabwean cricketer Christopher Mpofu, speaking exclusively on the DAFA NEWS cricket show on NewsX, provided valuable statistics ahead of this anticipated clash. He stated, “In the 15 ODI meetings between these two sides, Bangladesh holds the advantage with nine victories over Afghanistan. However, in their last five meetings, Afghanistan has a 3-2 advantage, despite losing the two most recent encounters against Bangladesh. Bangladesh has won seven times when defending a target and twice when chasing, while Afghanistan has four victories when batting first and two when chasing.”
The HPCA Stadium’s pitches typically favor bowlers, with black-soil wickets offering consistent bounce. Recent records indicate that medium pacers can thrive on these tracks. In the four ODIs played at this venue, teams chasing a target have generally had more success than those batting first.
Cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await this World Cup clash as Bangladesh and Afghanistan kick off their campaigns in what promises to be an exhilarating tournament opener at Dharamshala’s HPCA
Stadium.