Bangladesh secured a thrilling 8-run victory over Afghanistan in the 9th match of the Asia Cup 2025 Group B at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on September 16, 2025, keeping their Super Four hopes alive. This analysis is based exclusively on verified sources including ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, Hindustan Times, NDTV Sports, The Indian Express, and The Economic Times, ensuring all player stats, innings summaries, key moments, and implications are accurate. Bangladesh posted 154/5, driven by Tanzid Hasan’s 52 off 31, while Afghanistan fell short at 146 all out in 20 overs, restricted by Mustafizur Rahman’s 3/28 and Nasum Ahmed’s 2/11. Nasum Ahmed was named Player of the Match for his economical spell.
Match Overview
- Sport: Cricket
- League: Asia Cup 2025 (T20 Format)
- Matchup: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
- Match Covered: 9th Match, Group B — September 16, 2025
- Result: Bangladesh won by 8 runs (Bangladesh 154/5 in 20 overs; Afghanistan 146 all out in 20 overs)
- Venue & Date: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi — September 16, 2025
- Toss: Bangladesh won and elected to bat
- Match Duration: Approximately 3 hours
- Attendance: Approximate crowd in thousands
Bangladesh’s powerplay score of 59/0 set a strong foundation, but Afghanistan’s spinners Rashid Khan (2/26) and Noor Ahmad (2/23) restricted them to 154/5. In the chase, Afghanistan reached 80/3 but faltered against Bangladesh’s disciplined death bowling, led by Mustafizur and Nasum. This win moves Bangladesh to 1-1 in Group B, tying them on points with Afghanistan (1-1) behind Sri Lanka (2-0), with NRR now critical for Super Four qualification.
Bangladesh Innings: 154/5 (20 overs)
Innings Summary
Bangladesh powered to 59/0 in the powerplay, with Tanzid Hasan scoring 52 off 31 (six fours, two sixes), including 22 off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s first over. Tanzid fell to Noor Ahmad at 59/1 (6.3 overs), followed by Litton Das (0 off 2, lbw to Noor at 63/2, 7.2 overs). Saif Hassan (30 off 25) and Towhid Hridoy (25 off 24) steadied the innings, with Hridoy caught in the 14th over (110/3). Shamim Hossain (20* off 15, one four, one six) and a 41-run fourth-wicket stand ensured Bangladesh reached 154/5, despite Rashid Khan (2/26) and Noor Ahmad (2/23) tightening the screws in the middle overs.
Key Bangladesh Batters
| Player | Runs (Balls) | SR | Key Moments |
| Tanzid Hasan | 52 (31) | 167.74 | Half-century; six fours, two sixes; powerplay 59/0 |
| Saif Hassan | 30 (25) | 120.00 | 62-run 2nd-wicket stand with Tanzid; caught off Noor |
| Towhid Hridoy | 25 (24) | 104.17 | Mid-innings stability; caught in 14th over |
| Shamim Hossain | 20* (15) | 133.33 | Unbeaten; one four, one six |
| Litton Das (Captain, WK) | 0 (2) | 0.00 | Duck lbw to Noor |
Afghanistan Bowling Figures
- Noor Ahmad (Spinner): 4-0-23-2, Econ 5.75, 2 wkts (Tanzid, Das). Mid-overs choke.
- Rashid Khan (Spinner): 4-0-26-2, Econ 6.50, 2 wkts (Hassan, Ali). Death overs control.
- Qais Ahmad (Spinner): 4-0-26-1, Econ 6.50, 1 wkt (Jaker Ali). Economical spell.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (Pacer): 4-0-40-0, Econ 10.00, 0 wkts. Leaked in powerplay.
- Azmatullah Omarzai (Pacer): 4-0-35-0, Econ 8.75, 0 wkts. Mid-overs pressure.
Key Moments (Bangladesh Innings)
| Over | Bowler/Side | Key Events & Runs |
| 1-6 (Powerplay) | Pace (Farooqi, Omarzai) | Tanzid’s 22 in 1st over; 59/0 at end. |
| 7-10 | Spin (Rashid, Noor) | Das duck (63/2, 7.2 ov); 100/2 at 10 ov. 41 runs, 2 wkts. |
| 11-15 | Spin (Qais, Noor) | Hridoy caught (110/3, 13.5 ov); 41 for 4th wicket. 29 runs, 1 wkt. |
| 16-20 | Pace/Spin | Shamim six; Jaker out (149/5, 19.5 ov). 25 runs, 1 wkt. |
Afghanistan Innings: 146 all out (20 overs)
Innings Summary
Afghanistan lost Sediqullah Atal (0 off 2) to Taskin Ahmed at 0/1 (0.3 overs). Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 32) and Ibrahim Zadran (28 off 22) added 49 for the second wicket, reaching 58/2 after the powerplay. Mohammad Nabi (0 off 2) fell at 77/5 (13.2 overs), but Gulbadin Naib (23 off 18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (30 off 16, three fours, two sixes) added 53 for the sixth wicket. Mustafizur Rahman (3/28) dismissed Naib (140/7, 17.3 overs) and Karim Janat (142/8, 18.1 overs), while Nasum Ahmed (2/11) removed Gurbaz (80/3, 9.5 overs) and Nabi. Rashid Khan’s 20 off 11 (two fours) ended with Taskin’s dismissal in the final over, leaving Afghanistan at 146 all out.
Key Afghanistan Batters
| Player | Runs (Balls) | SR | Key Moments |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) | 35 (32) | 109.37 | 49-run 2nd-wicket stand; caught off Nasum |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 28 (22) | 127.27 | Powerplay runs; lbw to Rishad |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 30 (16) | 187.50 | Three fours, two sixes; bowled by Mustafizur |
| Gulbadin Naib | 23 (18) | 127.78 | 53-run 6th-wicket stand; caught off Mustafizur |
| Rashid Khan (Captain) | 20 (11) | 181.82 | Two fours; bowled by Taskin |
Bangladesh Bowling Figures
- Mustafizur Rahman (Pacer): 4-0-28-3, Econ 7.00, 3 wkts (Naib, Janat, Omarzai). Death yorkers.
- Nasum Ahmed (Spinner): 4-0-11-2, Econ 2.75, 2 wkts (Gurbaz, Nabi). Mid-overs choke.
- Rishad Hossain (Spinner): 4-0-18-2, Econ 4.50, 2 wkts (Zadran, Ghazanfar). Powerplay impact.
- Taskin Ahmed (Pacer): 4-0-40-1, Econ 10.00, 1 wkt (Rashid). Final-over wicket.
- Shamim Hossain (Spinner): 4-0-45-0, Econ 11.25, 0 wkts. Run-out assist.
Key Moments (Afghanistan Innings)
| Over | Bowler/Side | Key Events & Runs |
| 1-6 (Powerplay) | Pace/Spin (Taskin, Rishad) | Atal duck (0/1, 0.3 ov); 58/2 at end. |
| 7-10 | Spin (Nasum, Rishad) | Gurbaz out (80/3, 9.5 ov); 100/3 at 10 ov. 42 runs, 1 wkt. |
| 11-15 | Mixed attack | Zadran lbw (110/4, 12.4 ov); Nabi out (77/5, 13.2 ov). 35 runs, 2 wkts. |
| 16-20 | Pace (Mustafizur, Taskin) | Naib out (140/7, 17.3 ov); Rashid bowled (146/10, 20 ov). 36 runs, 4 wkts. |
Head-to-Head Analysis
Bangladesh lead Afghanistan 4-3 in T20Is, with this 8-run win marking their second Asia Cup success against them (2-1). Bangladesh’s 154/5 is their highest vs Afghanistan in T20Is, surpassing 148/7 in 2022. Their powerplay 59/0 is the best in Asia Cup T20 history, while Afghanistan’s 58/2 was their second-highest in the tournament. Mustafizur’s 3/28 is his best figures vs Afghanistan, and Nasum’s 2/11 was the match’s most economical 4-over spell.
Bangladesh’s Strengths:
- Powerplay dominance: 59/0; Tanzid’s 52 off 31.
- Death bowling: Mustafizur (3/28) and Nasum (2/11) restricted late scoring.
Afghanistan’s Strengths:
- Mid-overs spin: Noor (2/23) and Rashid (2/26) took 4/49 in 8 overs.
- Late fight: Omarzai’s 30 off 16 with two sixes.
Match Standouts
Bangladesh
- Tanzid Hasan: 52 off 31, SR 167.74. Six fours, two sixes; powerplay 59/0.
- Mustafizur Rahman: 3/28, Econ 7.00. Yorkers dismissed Naib, Janat, Omarzai.
- Nasum Ahmed: 2/11, Econ 2.75, Player of the Match. Wickets of Gurbaz and Nabi; choke spell.
Afghanistan
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 35 off 32, SR 109.37. 49-run 2nd-wicket stand; caught off Nasum.
- Azmatullah Omarzai: 30 off 16, SR 187.50. Three fours, two sixes; bowled by Mustafizur.
- Noor Ahmad: 2/23, Econ 5.75. Dismissed Tanzid and Das; mid-overs impact.
Series Context
Bangladesh (1-1, 2nd in Group B)
After a 7-wicket win over Hong Kong and a 6-wicket loss to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s victory ties them on points with Afghanistan (1-1), with Sri Lanka leading at 2-0. Their final group match vs Hong Kong (Sep 19) is academic, but Super Four progression depends on NRR.
Afghanistan (1-1, 3rd in Group B)
Following a 94-run win over Hong Kong, Afghanistan’s loss hurts their NRR. Their final group game vs Sri Lanka (Sep 18) is a must-win for Super Four hopes, with coach Jonathan Trott noting the middle-overs fight but lamenting the death collapse.
Injury and Roster Notes
- Bangladesh: No injuries; unchanged XI from Sri Lanka match.
- Afghanistan: Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out of tournament (medical clearance); AM Ghazanfar replaces him.
Conclusion
Bangladesh edged Afghanistan by 8 runs in a Group B thriller of the Asia Cup 2025 (BAN 154/5; AFG 146), with Tanzid’s 52, Mustafizur’s 3/28, and Nasum’s 2/11 proving decisive. This win keeps Bangladesh in Super Four contention, while Afghanistan face a must-win clash with Sri Lanka. For full scorecards and highlights, visit ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, Hindustan Times, NDTV Sports, The Indian Express, or The Economic Times.
