In a stunning display of leadership and skill, Shakib Al Hasan guided Bangladesh to a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the second Twenty20 International, securing a clean sweep in the two-match series. The match, played under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method due to rain interruptions, witnessed Shakib’s brilliance with both the ball and the bat. Winning the toss, Shakib elected to field first, a decision that paid off as Bangladesh restricted Afghanistan to 116 for seven in their allotted 17 overs. Shakib led from the front, delivering an impressive bowling performance, claiming two wickets for just 15 runs in his three overs. The Bangladeshi bowlers, as a unit, applied pressure and restricted the Afghan batsmen from scoring freely.
The rain delay of over an hour resulted in the match being reduced to 17 overs per side. With a revised target of 119, Bangladesh approached their chase with determination. Shakib, not content with his bowling heroics, showcased his batting prowess, remaining unbeaten on 18 runs. His composed innings steered Bangladesh to their target in the 17th over, with four wickets still in hand and five balls to spare. It was a historic victory for Bangladesh as they secured their first-ever T20 series win against Afghanistan. The previous match in the series had also been a closely contested affair, with Bangladesh prevailing by two wickets, overcoming the dramatic last-over hat-trick by Karim Janat.
In the second T20, Bangladesh made two changes from their winning combination, bringing in Afif Hossain and Hasan Mahmud to strengthen their batting and pace bowling departments. Afghanistan, on the other hand, made a solitary change, introducing debutant Wafadar Momand in place of Farid Ahmad. The series against Afghanistan had been a mixed bag for Bangladesh so far. After suffering a demoralizing defeat in the one-off Test match by a record 546-run margin, they bounced back to claim the three-match ODI series 2-1. The T20 series victory provided Bangladesh with a much-needed boost, ending their campaign against Afghanistan on a high note.
Shakib Al Hasan’s outstanding captaincy, coupled with his stellar all-round performance, was undoubtedly the highlight of the series. His crucial contributions with the ball, picking up crucial wickets, and his composed batting, steering Bangladesh to victory, showcased his immense value to the team. With this victory, Bangladesh has sent a strong message to the cricketing world, highlighting their growing prowess and determination to compete at the highest level. As they celebrate their historic T20 series triumph against Afghanistan, the team can now look forward to building on this success and continuing their upward trajectory in the world of cricket.