The third and final One-Day International (ODI) between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is waiting to provide the cricket world all the drama at Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

The match is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm local time.

Had Bangladesh won the second ODI, the final clash would have been a dead rubber but Afghanistan saw to it they save all the attention for the final ODI’ reports the Cricket Country.

‘Bangladesh batsmen did show firepower with their batting especially the lower-order playing the big shots and debutant Mossadek Hossain grabbing all the attention with his all-round skills. But Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi took the cake away not only with two wickets but with his 61-ball 49 to help Afghanistan level the three ODI series against the No. 7 ranked team.’

‘Bangladesh have had issues with their middle-order, who have not fired at the need of hour against the talented Afghanistan bowlers like Dawlat Zadran, Nabi and Rashid Khan. Asghar Stanikzai has done his duty well as captain rotating his bowlers as per requirement and Bangladesh batsmen have been helpless. Tamim Iqbal shone in the first ODI and this time it was Nabi for Afghanistan, who was at on top with his innings. With regards to Bangladesh batsmen, Mahmadullah, Hossain and Iqbal have been consistent in getting the runs on board. They will be expected to build longer runs in the final ODI.’

‘Shakib-Al-Hasan has been the saviour as well with his innings and proved why is termed as the global ambassador. He broke record as the first Bangladesh player as the highest wicket-taker across formats’.

‘Imrul Kayes can be called back to the XI after his excellent innings in the top-order with Tamim. As for the bowling, they have made some drastic changes benching out Rubel Hossain and enters Mosharraf Hossain. Coming to the international arena after eight years is definitely no joke and that puts him in spotlight to grab more wickets if he wants to cement his place in the squad. Mashrafe Mortaza will have to rethink his strategy on how he will want to use his bowlers, whether to give importance to seamers or spinners.

‘If there is, anything that Afghanistan want to work on is their batting unit. Mohammad Shahzad, who has always been at the top with his innings scoring fifty in every ODI match, was found out of form in this series in particular. Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Nabi have shown their fire-power with the bat. But players like Najibullah Zadran and Nawroz Mongal who was hyped ahead of the series, failed to go all out.’

‘If there is anyone who will be on spotlight in the final clash will be Mossadek as well as Mosharraf for Bangladesh, while Afghanistan will want their usual players Stanikzai as well as Shahzad to be at the top to seal the series and create history.’

‘As for ODI status for both teams over last five ODI matches, Bangladesh have lost one and won the four while Afghanistan had different story to say as they lost three and won two. Mirpur pitch has been on and off where it favoured spinners on the first ODI while it was runs galore in the second ODI. What the pitch holds for final clash is still unknown.’

Bangladesh, however, has the personnel to wrap up a series win, but those big-name players, especially the batsmen, need to come to the party quickly.

As Mortaza was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo.com, ‘Pressure is obviously on both sides, this being an international match. Fact that they are an Associate nation doesn’t come to our mind. They are a strong team’.’ 

In the press conference before the series decider, the Tigers captain was confident about winning the series. He said that, one defeat shouldn’t affect this team's achievements gained in the recent past. He was hopeful that his team will put their best in today’s match.

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Mosharraf Hossain

Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmat Shah, Mirwais Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Fareed Ahmad, Amir Hamza, Najibullah Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Naveen-ul-Haq, Karim Janat, Shabir Noori, Ihsanullah