Afghanistan Series: Predictions

[Kriterion_BD]

Bangladesh should be considered themselves " lucky " enough that they don't had to rubb off in those less attractive ICC leagues
which takes enough time for a team to come through main stream cricket. Teams playing in ICC Leagues, faces test playing nations for much lesser number of times, as a result captains of those teams still complains ICC about not facing strong teams to improve their games, Bangladesh after their status always had the opportunity of playing against strong teams since 2000, in all the formats, it was lack of talents that they took so much time, and now they have come hitting opponents more with mouth then with skills.

ICC trophy concept which Bangladesh won, and was promoted for 1999 World Cup and Test status as been stopped by ICC, otherwise we might have seen sides like Netherlands, Scotlands & Ireland in main stream cricket lot earlier.

The ICC Trophy still exists! ZIM are hosting it next month dude. Its just changed its name.

Technically, the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan have gotten a lot more opportunities than Bangladesh did. Ireland and Afghanistan have each played a few bilateral series vs Test nations, BEFORE getting Test status. Bangladesh only got one such bilateral series in 1999 vs West Indies. The rest were triangulars involving ZIM and/or Kenya.

Additionally, the World Cricket League/IC Cup gives ample opportunities for Associate sides to develop their game. Its the most successful method of developing a side for promotion to Test status. Unfortunately the concept didn't come into effect until a few years after Bangladesh's promotion. The benefit of regular matches against sides at your level shouldn't be understated. Getting thrashed by top class opposition doesn't work to develop a side (well, never say never).

Sri Lanka are now simply making fun of Bangladesh with their skills in test after odi tri nation series win,even in a flat road like pitch

The game's not over yet. We still have plenty of batting to come on a decent-enough pitch.

This SL side drew a Test in India a few weeks ago and won two in the UAE (yes, PAK are poor side after MisYou)...its not the same SL side that lost to BD in SL last year on form. Incidentally, it was Bangladesh making fun of the Lankans in Colombo at that time! SL also have insider info from our ex-coach, granted I didn't think they had the skillset to make use of it, but kudos to them they have so far.

At any rate, SL are firm favorites, but BD has saved matches from such positions before so hopefully we can do so again.

[strikerlube]

Interesting thoughts AfghanKhan. What about ihsanulluh at the top of the order? (Monobrow bloke). I watched the sphageeza and it seems like he's the Mire equivalent. He was smacking balls.

I hope our boys get up against Afg, but I'm in agreeance that the T20s will be tougher than the ODIs. Is rain likely in UAE at all? I'm thinking 1-1 t20s then 3-2/4-1 Zim in Odis (hoping).

Also that looks like obvious trolling from robot lol, Bangla friends don't bite please.

[Kriterion_BD]

Yeah I think a series loss to ZIM could potentially be good for the Afghans to finally ditch crap players like Stanikzai and invest more on the youth. I am sure the ACB, players, and fans think beating ZIM is a foregone conclusion based on past results. But I highly doubt Stanikzai will be axed before the WCQ or even the 2019 WC (should AFG qualify). So a series loss to ZIM would probably do more harm than good.

[afghankhan]

Rahmat Shah is the best Afghanistan batsman imo

He is good, but you don't win many games these days scoring 40-50 runs at strike rate of 55. I agree he is the best we have after Shahzad.

[afghankhan]

Interesting thoughts AfghanKhan. What about ihsanulluh at the top of the order? (Monobrow bloke). I watched the sphageeza and it seems like he's the Mire equivalent. He was smacking balls.

I hope our boys get up against Afg, but I'm in agreeance that the T20s will be tougher than the ODIs. Is rain likely in UAE at all? I'm thinking 1-1 t20s then 3-2/4-1 Zim in Odis (hoping).

Also that looks like obvious trolling from robot lol, Bangla friends don't bite please.

He is the younger brother of former player and current chief selector Nowroz Mangal.

Hasn't done anything of note yet.

[Kriterion_BD]

Rahmat Shah is the best Afghanistan batsman imo

He is good, but you don't win many games these days scoring 40-50 runs at strike rate of 55. I agree he is the best we have after Shahzad.

Shahzad is just a slogger a bit like Solomon Mire. Afghanistan's best batsmen are Nabi and Rehmat. Rashid has potential and where is Usman Ghani...he reminded me of Tamim Iqbal when he was blasting centuries as a teenager on ODI debut.

[afghankhan]

Rahmat Shah is the best Afghanistan batsman imo

He is good, but you don't win many games these days scoring 40-50 runs at strike rate of 55. I agree he is the best we have after Shahzad.

Shahzad is just a slogger a bit like Solomon Mire. Afghanistan's best batsmen are Nabi and Rehmat. Rashid has potential and where is Usman Ghani...he reminded me of Tamim Iqbal when he was blasting centuries as a teenager on ODI debut.

That's where you are mistaken. Shahzad is not just a slogger. His stats in all 3 formats are superior to any other Afghan batsman.

[Kriterion_BD]

That's where you are mistaken. Shahzad is not just a slogger. His stats in all 3 formats are superior to any other Afghan batsman.

If so, thats an instance of where domestic stats don't always tell the story. Having watched the Afghan batsman, I will say this. Nabi looks to me to be most well rounded batsman. he has the technique, temperament, and range of shots/power. rehmat has the temparement but he needs to kick on and make really big scores or score heavily for a consistent time period. Rashid has potential to be a solid #7.

Shahzad has impressive figures but thats mostly from blasting the hapless trundlers from Oman and Hong Kong, no? He doesn't have the technique or the temperament to get decent scores against decent bowling attacks. In fact, now that Jarvis seems a much improved bowler and Muzarabani brings a potency that other ZIM seamers couldn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Shahzad has a quiet series vs ZIM.

As a whole Afghanistan's batting is well below mediocre. They are competing and will continue to compete solely on the strength of their bowling (mainly spin attack).

[afghankhan]

That's where you are mistaken. Shahzad is not just a slogger. His stats in all 3 formats are superior to any other Afghan batsman.

If so, thats an instance of where domestic stats don't always tell the story. Having watched the Afghan batsman, I will say this. Nabi looks to me to be most well rounded batsman. he has the technique, temperament, and range of shots/power. rehmat has the temparement but he needs to kick on and make really big scores or score heavily for a consistent time period. Rashid has potential to be a solid #7.

Shahzad has impressive figures but thats mostly from blasting the hapless trundlers from Oman and Hong Kong, no? He doesn't have the technique or the temperament to get decent scores against decent bowling attacks. In fact, now that Jarvis seems a much improved bowler and Muzarabani brings a potency that other ZIM seamers couldn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Shahzad has a quiet series vs ZIM.

As a whole Afghanistan's batting is well below mediocre. They are competing and will continue to compete solely on the strength of their bowling (mainly spin attack).

Yes atm we have nothing but spinners. Rest are mediocre compared to the best in the world. Maybe a bit harsh, but there is no equivalent of Rashid in batting or fast bowling.
Shahzad has played against same opponents as the rest of the players.
Nabi could have done better if he was pure batsman. Actually he don't like batting in top 4. He sees himself as a lower order batsman.
ATM I don't see a bright world class talent in the senior team. All are bits and pieces players. Even the batsmen.
In the u.19 however there a few that has potential to achieve more than current cricketers like Rahmanullah, Ibrahim, Ikram, Baheer and Darwish Rasooli. Omarzai who smacked 23 ball 60+ against NZ could become very good T20/ODI players.

When all that is said I don't think ZIM has better cricketers than Afghanistan.

[Nanctus]

I'm backing Zim to win the ODIs 4-1 with Jarvis taking a bunch of wickets.

T20s will probably be much harder because of Afghanistan's spinners, but hopefully ZIm can get the sweep shot going like they did in Sri Lanka. Can't even predict a result though, it just comes down to whoever clicks on the day.

Does anyone know if Mujeeb's likely to play for Afghanistan?