AFG vs BAN Match 3 Live Commentary - Sharjah (21 October 2026)

A bit of a loose start as Rashid serves a full toss on middle and leg. Emon just eases it down to long on and picks up a single.

Nearly gets chopped on! Flatter and on a nagging length, tight on off stump. Hassan gets a bit forward and pushes at it but gets an inside edge onto the back leg.

Fuller this time and slightly more outside off, Saif eases it to cover.

Oh, the googly now and Hassan didn't pick it up at all. Slower through the air, fuller and turning in from outside off. Hassan moves a bit to the off side and plays it late, getting another inside edge onto the pads.

Bowled flatter and straighter at the stumps, worked away to mid-wicket by Saif.

A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire turns it down. Rashid Khan and the keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, seem certain and after a lot of thinking, Rahmat Shah does review it.

Floated up at the stumps, this is driven back past the bowler and down to long off for a single.

Good length around off, angling back in. Emon rocks back and punches it wide of long off for one more.

Flicked from the front of the hand, and flighted up on middle. Hassan leans forward and eases it back to the bowler.

This is tossed up a bit straighter, on middle and leg, and Saif works it wide of mid on for a quick run.

Dragged length, spinning it well into the left-hander. Emon stays back and stabs it down to short mid-wicket.

WIDE! Bowled flatter and fuller, sliding it down the leg side for an extra.

Slower through the air, floated up around off. Emon goes down to sweep and gets on top of the bounce, angling it along the ground and through backward square leg for a single.

Banged in well short and over off, Saif Hassan stays back and plays an awkward pull shot, hitting it more like a tennis smash and getting it over the mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

On a good length and angled into the batter. Hassan tucks it down to the right of mid-wicket for an easy single.

Angling down leg. Full of a good length, slanted back into the left-hander. Parvez Hossain Emon plays all around it and the ball catches him high on the pads. There's a stifled appeal for LBW from the bowler, but it's been turned down.

Hard length, straighter in line again, nudged away with soft hands to mid-wicket.

A direct hit would certainly have been curtains for Parvez Hossain Emon. Good length, cutting back into the batter. Emon tucks it to the left of mid-wicket and wanders down the pitch for a single, but Hassan quickly sends him back. The fielder fires in a throw at the batter's end as Emon dives in, and thankfully for Emon, the fielder misses the stumps.

SIX! That's been a long time coming, and the 50 is finally up for Bangladesh. Short-pitched delivery, angled into the batter. Emon decides to take it on and hooks it handsomely over long leg for a biggie.

Should have been put away. A bit short and well wide of the off stump. Saif Hassan stays back and low, cutting it straight towards the fielder at backward point.

Tossed up at the stumps now, Hassan walks inside the line of the ball a bit and clips it to mid on.

The attempted carrom ball now, on the pads and nudged down to short fine leg for a quick single.

Looped up outside off, Emon sits down to sweep early and has to wait a bit before he angles it to the right of backward square leg. The fielder scampers across and dives in to make a half-stop, keeping it down to one run.

That's a jaffa from Ghazanfar. Another carrom ball, landing it a bit fuller and on off. Hassan is drawn forward to play at it but the ball just turns away a smidge and goes past the outside edge.

Dragged length on the pads, worked away behind square leg for just a single.

Back of a length, in and around off. Hassan gets forward and nudges it down to point.

Length ball, pushed wider of the off stump. Hassan smacks it down into the turf but can't quite beat the point fielder to his left.

Fuller this time, outside off again, and this is punched away between point and covers for a single.

Good carry on offer for Sami. He comes around the wicket to the left-hander and bowls it into the turf, getting the ball to just seam away a bit as well. Emon rises up with the bounce and looks to cut but is beaten past the outside edge.

Pitched up at the stumps, darting back in. Emon leans on and blocks it off. Emon is now on 2 off 17 balls, but that shouldn't bother him much, because it's all about keeping his wicket intact right now.

And just like that, Emon nearly throws it all away. A heavy short ball from Sami, hammered into the deck and angled towards the bodyline. Parvez Hossain Emon is late on the pull, mistiming it badly, and just in front of the lunging short mid-wicket fielder.

Bowled from around the wicket, full and drifted into middle and leg. Emon blocks it toward the non-striker.

Nicely flighted, very full and landing it on off. Emon leans forward and drives it into the turf, straight back to the bowler.

Pushed through flatter, sliding it in with the arm, towards off and middle. Emon rocks back and jams it out to short extra cover.

Floated up around off, Parvez gets forward and a bit across to the off side, smothering it down to long on for a single.

Good length, slightly wide outside off. Saif Hassan opts to hang back and taps it down to backward point.

A tad shorter and drifted into the legs, Hassan stays back and dabs it down through square leg for a run.

Sami starts off on a hard length, bowling it on a tight line around off. Parvez Hossain Emon looks to punch it away but ends up chopping it back onto the deck.

This is pitched up on middle, angling it away, Emon gets forward well and defends it to square cover.

Good-length delivery, slinging it into the pads. Emon tucks it down in front of square leg. Three dots to begin with from Sami.

A slight misfield, but it is well backed up. Full of a length and around off, Parvez Hossain Emon gets forward and punches it on the up. The extra cover fielder slides to his left and lets the ball through, but the man at mid off scampers to his right and tidies up.

WIDE! Aggressive delivery from Sami, dug in well short at almost 134 kph and right around the front shoulder. Emon looks to pull but misses and a wide is given, probably for height.

A bit unlucky for the batter. Pitched up on middle, Emon drives with the full face of the bat but ends up hitting the stumps at the other end.

That's sloppy from Hashmatullah Shahidi. Good length in the channel, stroked away towards cover-point, where Shahidi fumbles it behind and concedes a single.

Full and straight on the stumps, Hassan leans on and defends it to cover.

Oh, this one skids through. On a length around the leg stump. Saif looks to flick but closes the bat face early. The ball catches the leading edge and rolls back to the bowler.

 FOUR! Now that's a fine shot! A bit back of a length, outside the off stump. Saif Hassan springs down the track, creates room by staying leg side and whacks it over extra cover for a cracking boundary. A four after a long while for Bangladesh.

Bowls it full, on the fourth stump, Saif lunges and blocks it to cover.

Not all that full, outside off, Saif creams the cover drive, but Sediqullah Atal makes a sharp diving stop to his left at short cover.

 FOUR! Powered away into the gap! Saif advances to a length-delivery which is bowled outside off and slaps it hard over the point fielder for a boundary. Good intent. Bangladesh end their Powerplay at 38/4.

Slants onto the pads, on a good length, Saif steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Straightens up from a length, around off. Parvez gets squared up to defend, but it rolls off the outside edge towards point.

Pitched full on off, Emon blocks the ball right under his eyes.

Shapes in on middle, on a length, 131.6 kph. Emon presses forward and stabs it back at the bowler.

Back of a length, outside off, Emon leaves the harmless delivery.

Action replay of the previous ball. Too wide on a length, Emon is happy to watch it go through.

On a back of a length, outside off, Hassan lets it through.

Outside off, and this is left alone watchfully.

Length ball and outside off again, Hassan makes the leave.

Length-delivery, outside off, Hassan punches it to short cover.

Angling in on a fullish length, Hassan works it to mid-wicket.

A touch full and on the off stump. Hassan forces the drive wide of the cover fielder for a single.

Nipping in on a good length, Shanto hops back and knocks it to the cover region.

Oh, a tempter! At 127.1 kph, this is a good length, outside off. It holds the line as Shanto dangles the bat away from his body to play at it. It beats the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

Wide! Too far outside off, going beyond the tramline. Left alone. Not much bounce on this one either.

Peach of a delivery! Pitched fuller and angled into the batter, around off. Najmul Hossain Shanto is drawn forward to defend but it lands and straightens up to beat his outside edge.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The trap was laid for Shanto and he eventually falls in it. This is excellent bowling by Omarzai. Good length ball, outside the off stump. Najmul Hossain Shanto again prods half-forward to block but it nips in just slightly and that's enough for the ball to graze the outside edge before it nestles into Rahmanullah Gurbaz's gloves. Loose shot from Shanto and Bangladesh are struggling badly with 3 down for just 27.

Smidge full and outside off, driven crisply to mid off by Towhid.

Wide! Strays down the leg stump, full in length, Hridoy misses the flick.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Wicket number 2 for Azmatullah Omarzai as Hridoy goes for a silver duck. He gets the ball to shape in onto the pads, on a fuller length. Hridoy goes for the flick but the ball slightly stops on the surface. As a result, Towhid's bat twists at the point of contact and a thick leading edge is found. The ball bobbles up towards the bowler and Azmatullah Omarzai plucks it with his right hand in his follow-through. Excellent reflexes from him and Hridoy stands there completely stunned. The day just keeps getting worse for Bangladesh as they slip to 28/4. Also, Parvez Hossain Emon walks out to bat next.

Pushed outside off, full, Shanto leaves.

 FOUR! Off the inside edge! Slanted miles outside off, and it would have been a wide had Shanto left it alone. Instead, he reaches out to access the off side and gets a thick inside edge. The ball trickles behind to the keeper, where Rahmanullah Gurbaz, having moved too far to his left, is wrong-footed and dives to his right in vain as the ball stays out of his reach and races to the fence behind.

Outside off and full, strongly driven to mid off.

Moving in from off, on a fullish length, Shanto mistimes the straight drive to mid on.

Another one that shapes in from a length, Shanto tries to drive it straight, but gets it off the inner half towards widish mid-wicket for a single.

On a fuller length, on off, Saif checks the drive to mid off.

From around the stump, on a length, on top of off, Shanto knocks it to the off side.

Hammers it on a good length, angling it on the stumps, Shanto is rushed on the back foot, trying to work it across but the ball beats the inside edge. It thuds the thigh pad and lobs towards Ibrahim Zadran at backward point, who moves ahead and gobbles it up.

Around off and this is pushed away to cover.

FOUR! Nicely timed and placed! Short and into the bodyline, Shanto picks the length early, swivels and nails the pull shot through square leg for a boundary.

Swings in, from middle to leg, full in length, Shanto flicks it firmly and wide of mid-wicket for a quick single.

Shaping in, full on leg, Saif flicks it along the ground and to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Nice shape. Full and swinging away from the batter. Hassan presses in front and blocks it right off the middle.

Beaten! Fairly outside off, on a length, moving away late. Saif throws his hands at it to cut it square but the ball zips past his angled bat.

Speared onto the pads on a fuller length, Saif Hassan flicks it off the inside half of the bat towards deep fine leg. AM Ghazanfar moves and dives to his right to make a fine stop. Two runs taken. Good effort in the deep.

Full and outside off, not much swing on this one. Hassan strokes it away, but straight to extra cover.

Very full and straight, on middle and leg. Hassan's head falls over as he forces it down to mid off.

Smartly bowled! Saif shows his cards early and jumps out of the crease to give it a whack over the off side, but seeing him, Yamin cleverly pushes it far outside off, on a length. Saif has to really stretch out to reach for it, but it keeps nibbling away to beat his bat. He is itching to get going.

INSIDE EDGE AND FOUR! Streaky, very streaky! Length-delivery, around off and shaping in with a considerable bounce. Shanto hangs back to punch it away but gets a fat inside edge. Luckily for him, the ball jumps over the stumps and speeds to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

On a nagging length, on off, Shanto camps back and blocks it down the pitch.

Good areas by Azmat! He gets the ball to slant it across the batter, on a good length. Shanto lets it through to the keeper and does not poke at it.

A bit more effort behind this delivery. Short of a length, wide outside off, Najmul is happy to leave. This one kept low on the bounce.

Angles it in and around off, full in length, Shanto gets the flick badly mistimed and it struggles to reach the mid-wicket fielder.

Too straight on the pads, Shanto clips the full ball to the square leg region.

Wide! Miles outside off, on a good length, Hasan leaves as the ball keeps nibbling beyond the tramline.

Wide! Fourth wide in a total of six runs so far. Back of a length, down leg. Tanzid misses out on the pull shot.

A little hint of inswing, full and outside off, Hasan cracks the drive to the off side, but straight to the mid off fielder.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! There's the first breakthrough as Yamin strikes. Ahmadzai bashes the length hard, on the off stump. It lands and holds its line but slightly kicks up from the surface. Tanzid Hasan looks to block it off the back foot, but plays inside the line. Perhaps he anticipated the ball to shape in, but gets a faint outside edge. A straightforward catch to Rahmanullah Gurbaz behind the stumps. The Afghans are delighted and Bangladesh are 6/1 in 1.2 overs.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Yet another failure for Sarkar in ODIs as he falls for a golden duck. Hits the length hard, does Yamin, outside the off-stump line. Soumya Sarkar hangs back and tries to cut it square on the off side, but he stays put and it is a bit too close to execute that shot. He ends up chopping it back onto the stumps and stands there in absolute shock. Yamin is on a hat-trick and Afghanistan are on a roll in Sharjah. Bangladesh have been dented to 6/2.

 Well-bowled! In the channel of uncertainty, a touch full and outside off with a bit of an inswing. Najmul closely watches it and leaves.

Wide! Too full, far outside off, left alone. 

Attacks the stumps on a fuller length, Shanto carefully blocks it back to the bowler.

Just a little shape into the batter, full on the pads, Shanto tickles it behind to deep fine leg for a single. A massively successful over for Afghanistan and Yamin.

Wide! Swing straightaway, but it's sprayed down leg on a fuller length. It keeps shaping down as Saif misses the flick.

Shapes the other way now, full and outside off, Hassan mistimes the cover drive, but it's played in the gap and he pinches in a single to get off the mark.

Wide! Misfires an inswinging delivery down leg, on a good length. Tanzid tries to glance it away but misses. Two extras already.

Much tighter on middle and leg, curving in, Tanzid hangs back and taps the length ball to mid-wicket.

Full and hooping in from off, Hasan mistimes the flick off the inner half and it rolls to short mid-wicket.

Holds its line, full around off, Hasan defends it to cover with soft hands.

Swinging in on off, Tanzid drives the length ball to the left of mid off. Rashid swoops in with a dive and makes a half-stop. One run taken and Tanzid also opens his account.

Oh, some intent! Saif advances on this length-delivery and tries to slap it through cover, but cannot pierce the gap, hitting it straight to the fielder.