Tigers' hopes hinge on Afghan hurdle

Bangladesh's last T20 clash with Afghanistan in Kingston during last year's World Cup in the USA remains unforgettable -- a game that handed the Tigers two defeats: one on the scoreboard and another in mindset.

Back then, Bangladesh needed a big win to boost their net run rate and stay in contention for the semifinals. Yet they never fully seized the opportunity, playing just to win and ending up losing. The defeat rattled the team's confidence, while Rashid Khan and teammates made history by advancing to the last four.

The stage is different now, but the challenge is similar. In this Asia Cup, Bangladesh must beat Afghanistan to keep their Super Four hopes alive -- then wait for a loss from Afghanistan against Sri Lanka.

Coming into the tournament, Liton Das and his side looked confident, showing signs of stability. Yet after a heavy defeat to Sri Lanka, the atmosphere has turned tense.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, have played one match so far but showed intent in a convincing win over Hong Kong. The UAE pitches are familiar territory, giving Rashid's team a clear advantage.

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott acknowledged Bangladesh's potential: "My sense is that Bangladesh have real match-winning players. We will have to put up a good challenge."

He also recalled their T20 World Cup triumph in St Vincent: "Qualifying for the semifinal gave us great confidence. That was a historic, tight game." Trott added that Bangladesh will face added pressure in this do-or-die scenario.

It was the batting collapse against Sri Lanka that put Bangladesh in a tough spot today. Bangladesh spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed highlighted the mental side of recovery: "I think little doubts occur. When you have that kind of failure early on… you have to tell your batsmen that those things happen, but you have to move on very fast, very quickly. So, our duty as coaches is to let them know not to go into a shell, not to lose their confidence."

Bangladesh must regroup quickly, according to Mushtaq. "From a coaching point of view, we have to believe that we can qualify.

"It's difficult, of course, when you rely on 'ifs and buts,' but you have to concentrate on the next coming match, concentrate and win that match first. Then, when you are mentally strong and have belief, it can happen."

Saturday's loss exposed the fine margins in Bangladesh's approach -- skill alone is not enough if cautious mindset persists. Against an experienced Afghan side, the Tigers face a stern test to keep their campaign alive.