Bangladesh, Afghanistan go into T20I series with different goals

Bangladesh and Afghanistan will lock horns in a three-match T20I series starting today in Sharjah, with both sides approaching the contest from contrasting perspectives.

For Bangladesh, the series is about rediscovering form and building momentum, while for Afghanistan, it is about fine-tuning strategies for next year's T20 World Cup.

The Tigers arrived in Sharjah with plenty of questions surrounding their batting. Their campaign in the recently concluded Asia Cup ended in disappointment, with scores of just 127 against India and 124-9 against Pakistan highlighting their ongoing struggles.

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Adding to their woes, skipper Litton Das was sidelined with an injury during training ahead of Bangladesh's Asia Cup clash against India, ruling him out of that game and the following one against Pakistan and now the Afghanistan series.

In his absence, Jaker Ali led against India and Pakistan and the wicketkeeper-batter has been entrusted with leadership once again for this series.

Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Jaker admitted that losing Litton was a major blow but insisted the team must move forward.

"Litton's news is a bit harsh for us. He is the skipper and he is doing really well with the bat. So, that cost us in the Asia Cup. But we move forward and keep looking forward to do well," he said.

"Winning matches is more important than playing modern cricket. Whether you play modern cricket or normal cricket, it is important to win matches. So, our focus is on winning matches," he explained.

He also admitted that the Bangladesh batters must shoulder responsibility after repeated failures.

"Our main plan will be to perform as a batting unit, as we had to suffer due to our batting. That's why we have to pay attention to the batting side," Jaker said, adding that players must take responsibility instead of shifting blame onto coaches or support staff.

Bangladesh's recent record in Sharjah adds another layer of pressure. The Tigers suffered a shock 2-1 series defeat against the UAE in May at the same venue.

In contrast, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan has his sights firmly set on next year's ICC T20 World Cup.

Speaking at the pre-series press conference, Rashid made it clear that preparing for global events remains the ultimate goal.

"For us, each and every game is competitive. We are not here just to have fun and then go back. We have a target, and the target is how we are going to be a perfect and balanced side for the next World Cup," Rashid said.

He pointed out that Afghanistan have played little T20I cricket over the past year, with only a series against Zimbabwe in December 2024 and a tri-series involving Pakistan and UAE before the Asia Cup. That lack of game time, Rashid noted, makes series like this essential for growth.

"From now on, losing doesn't matter that much for us. But getting better and becoming a well-prepared side for the World Cup is the target. If we win now and don't win in the World Cup, that's more upsetting. But if we lose now and get better and stronger for the World Cup, I think we win there. That's huge," he added.