Hassan credits Afghanistan’s positive cricket approach for their success against Bangladesh

According to Hamid Hassan, the bowling coach of Afghanistan, their team’s proactive approach and positive style of play played a crucial role in unsettling Bangladesh and securing their maiden ODI series win against the Tigers. Afghanistan claimed victory in the first ODI by 17 runs (DLS method) and dominated with a resounding 142-run win in the second match, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

“We played a brand of positive cricket, staying one step ahead of Bangladesh, which allowed us to keep their batsmen and bowlers off balance. This strategic advantage helped us gain the upper hand and secure victories,” Hassan stated in a media interaction ahead of the third and final ODI.

He added, “Beating Bangladesh in their home ground is no easy feat. It required immense hard work, intense practice sessions lasting five to six hours, and, most importantly, unwavering belief in our team and players. Our self-belief and confidence were the key factors that led to our success. When you trust in yourself and your team, you can overcome any challenge.”

While Afghanistan’s bowling attack, consisting of Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan, effectively restricted the Bangladesh batsmen in both matches, it was the impressive batting performance by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran that inflicted significant damage on the Tigers in the second game. The opening pair set a staggering 256-run partnership, with Gurbaz smashing 145 runs off 125 balls, including 13 fours and eight sixes, while Zadran contributed a steady 100 off 119 balls.

Farooqi made early breakthroughs with the new ball, containing the Bangladesh openers, while Mujeeb’s mystery spin caused trouble and resulted in crucial wickets. Nabi maintained his disciplined approach, while Rashid Khan showcased his exceptional skills, leaving the Bangladesh batsmen struggling to read his deliveries.

With the series momentum on their side, Hassan expressed the team’s intention to continue their positive approach and aim for a clean sweep by winning the series 3-0.

“Beating Bangladesh in their home ground is no easy task, but our boys performed exceptionally well in all facets of the game—batting, bowling, and fielding. It was a collective team effort that led to our excellent results. Inshallah, we hope to secure another victory tomorrow. We will continue playing our positive cricket,” Hassan concluded.