It's time for Shakib vs Rashid as Afghanistan return to full strength

Three months before they meet in Dharamshala to begin their respective World Cup campaigns, Bangladesh and Afghanistan meet in an ODI series to test each other. There is little to separate the two sides though their rivalry is not yet recognised as such. They have only been competing for 14 years at the international level, but they sit close together in the rankings, their players know each other from time spent together in T20 leagues, and they don't like losing to one another.

Afghanistan's chance to bounce back

The visitors have to overcome the third largest Test defeat (by runs) of all time. Last month, Bangladesh crushed them in the one-off Test, with the game ending by noon on day four. Afghanistan fielded quite an inexperienced outfit for that game and the only players from that deflated Test side to make the ODI squad are captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah.

The trio will form the crux of their ODI batting line-up, but they are complemented by the aggressive Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran. Their bowling attack is back to being close to full-strength. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will lead the spin attack with Nabi's offspin adding crucial support. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai are gaining in experience particularly on sub-continent pitches. and while Usman Ghani didn't agree with his omission, it seems Afghanistan have a strong white-ball unit in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh look for balance

The home side's team management have only one question in front of them: whether they want to go with an extra batter or bowler.

With Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the line-up, Bangladesh have two extra bowlers already, complementing a pace attack that has looked menacing in white-ball cricket of late. Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain come into this game on the back of four-wicket hauls in the one-off Test, while Hasan Mahmud was Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker during their most recent ODI series, against Ireland in Chelmsford.

The batting line-up wears a settled look. Tamim Iqbal, Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto have forged a tight top-order. The middle order comprises the experienced Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim and the young gun Towhid Hridoy. Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim are in the batting reserves.

Shakib v Rashid

The battle within the battle will be between Shakib and Rashid. Fans of each team will claim that their allrounder as the best, and there isn't much of a sample size from which to judge their battle in ODIs; the only thing of note is that each has dismissed the other twice in this format.

When expanded to include all three formats, Shakib averages 21.25 and with a strike rate of 79.43 while batting against Rashid. He has got out four times to the legspinner. Conversely, Rashid also hasn't done well against Shakib: dismissed twice in nine innings, averaging 13.5 while striking at 77.14.

Shakib and Rashid have had a tremendous impact on their respective teams. Both missed the one-off Test in Dhaka and their return will inspire their team-mates, and make this series even more worth the watch.

The monsoon threat

The forecast for Chattogram promises spells of rain or thunderstorms on every day of this white-ball series. What else can you expect during the monsoon season in Bangladesh? The only other time international cricket was played in Chattogram in July was eight years ago when Bangladesh played a rain-interrupted ODI and Test against South Africa.

Tamim wary of Afghanistan attack

Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal said his side was aware of Afghanistan's all-round bowling strength, and won't focus on their spin attack only. Farooqi was the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series in 2022, ahead of both Rashid and Shakib. Overall, the quicks slightly outbowled the spinners in that series, which was also played wholly in Chattogram.

"This ODI series will be as competitive as the last two against them," Tamim said. "They are a good side, especially in white-ball cricket. They probably have one of the best bowling attacks in the world. I don't expect anything less than the last series. We have to fight really hard. We can't expect to walk in and win the game.

"It is a good thing that we are playing against them at least four times before the World Cup. They will also understand our strength and weaknesses. I think it's a good thing for both the teams. Their fast bowlers did well in the last [ODI] series against us compared to their spinners. We cannot focus too much on their spin attack. They have quality fast bowlers as well. They are one of the most quality attacks in the world. We have to be at our very best to overcome them."

Tamim said this series would be crucial to Bangladesh's momentum ahead of the stern tests that will follow. "We have this series, the Asia Cup and the New Zealand series," he said. "It will give us the best possible preparations. We have been playing well in ODIs recently. This is a very important series.

"Our opponent has a strong bowling unit. If we can do well against them, it is the best possible confidence [we can gain]."