Bangladesh Beats Afghanistan to Keep Asia Cup Hopes Alive

Dubai, UAE — Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 8 runs on September 16, 2025, in a tense Asia Cup match, keeping their hopes alive for the Super Four stage.

After a shaky start to their campaign, Bangladesh needed this win to stay in contention. Led by captain Litton Das, who scored a crucial half-century, the Bangla Tigers set a target of 146 runs.

Afghanistan, led by captain Rashid Khan, entered the match full of confidence, having recently secured victories over Pakistan and UAE. But they could not chase down the total, collapsing to 137 runs.

Despite an opening partnership that faltered, Bangladesh found stability through its middle order. However, they felt they left some runs on the field after a shaky finish to their innings.

Star bowler Nasum Ahmed was named Player of the Match, taking 2 wickets for just 11 runs in 4 overs. He set the tone for Bangladesh’s bowling attack with an early wicket that disrupted Afghanistan’s momentum.

The Afghan batsmen struggled with handling Bangladesh’s spin attack. Though Rahmanullah Gurbaz showed promise with a 35-run effort, the team lost wickets at crucial moments, leaving them unable to respond effectively.

After the match, Litton Das expressed relief at the victory, stating, “Winning the game has given us a bit of relief.” Rashid Khan acknowledged the defeat, saying, “We were in the game for the most part but needed to be more disciplined.”

As Bangladesh celebrates this historic victory—its first T20I win over Afghanistan on foreign soil—their next challenge will be to win against Sri Lanka, as they look for the path to the Super Four stage.