Afghanistan emerged triumphant in a thrilling ODI series against Bangladesh, securing a 2-1 victory on Bangladeshi soil.
This monumental win marked Afghanistan’s maiden ODI series triumph in Bangladesh and dealt a blow to Bangladesh’s longstanding dominance at home, as they suffered only their third bilateral ODI series defeat since 2015.
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The third and final ODI in Chattogram witnessed Afghanistan being bowled out for 126 runs in 45.2 overs. However, Bangladesh managed to salvage some pride by chasing down the target in just 23.3 overs with seven wickets in hand, finishing at 129 for 3. This victory prevented a whitewash for Bangladesh against a resurgent Afghanistan side.
Bangladesh had established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in ODIs on their home turf, overpowering renowned teams such as India, Pakistan, and South Africa. Prior to their encounter with Afghanistan, Bangladesh had lost only two out of 15 ODI series at home.
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This triumph holds immense significance for Afghanistan as well, as it marks their first bilateral ODI series victory outside the realms of UAE, Qatar, Zimbabwe, Scotland, and Ireland. With this win, Afghanistan joins Zimbabwe as one of the only two Test-playing nations where they have claimed an ODI series triumph.
The success against Bangladesh has not only boosted Afghanistan’s team morale but also propelled their players in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings. Star batsmen Ibrahim Zadran, who soared 11 places to secure the 16th spot, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made a remarkable leap of 37 places to reach the 45th position, demonstrated their exceptional talent with centuries in the series.
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Additionally, Rashid Khan, the skilled spinner, climbed three spots to secure the fourth position, while left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi experienced a meteoric rise of 58 places to reach the 33rd spot in the bowler rankings.
This series victory marks a significant milestone for Afghanistan’s journey to establish themselves as a top-tier team in the realm of ODI cricket. With this achievement in their pocket, Afghanistan is eager to capitalize on their success and continue their upward trajectory in the future.
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