Afghanistan win toss, bat in third Bangladesh ODI

AFP | Chittagong              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat for Tuesday's third and final one-day international against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

The tourists have the chance to become the first side to win all three matches of a bilateral ODI series in Bangladesh since Sri Lanka in 2014.

They are already only the second team to win an ODI series in Bangladesh in the past seven years, world champions England being the other.

Afghanistan rested Rashid Khan and Saleem Safi and handed debuts to fast-bowling all-rounder Abdul Rahman and left-arm spinner Zia Akbar.

Bangladesh brought in Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Taijul Islam for Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud and the injured Ebadot Hossain.

Regular skipper Tamim Iqbal is resting until the Asia Cup after announcing his shock retirement last week, only to reverse the decision a day later after meeting Bangladesh's prime minister.

Bangladesh: Liton Das (capt), Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Abdul Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia Akbar.

Umpires: Masudur Rahman (BAN), Adrian Holdstock (RSA)

TV Umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)