Afghanistan crushes Bangladesh by 200 runs in Abu Dhabi ODI

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the Afghanistan national cricket team stunned the Bangladesh national cricket team with a 200-run victory at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The win completed a 3‑0 whitewash in the three‑match ODI series and handed Afghanistan a massive boost in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.

Series Background and Stakes

Both sides arrived in the UAE for a short‑term bilateral series that doubled as preparation for the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup qualifiers. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had scheduled the matches in Abu Dhabi because security concerns still prevent international fixtures on home soil. For Bangladesh, the series was a chance to fine‑tune their batting against quality pace, while Afghanistan hoped to cement their rising status in the Super League.

Historically, Afghanistan’s biggest ODI win had been a 232‑run rout of Zimbabwe in 2022. Matching that margin against a full‑member nation like Bangladesh signalled a psychological shift. The three points on the table also meant 120 Super League points for Afghanistan, putting them firmly in contention for direct qualification.

Match Summary: Afghanistan's Dominant Performance

The toss was won by Afghanistan, and they elected to bat first. Opening the innings, Hashmatullah Shahidi guided the top order to a steady start before falling at 65/2. The real engine was Ibrahim Zadran, who piled up a blistering 95 runs off 104 balls, peppering the opposition bowlers with a mix of drives and cuts.

Middle‑order firepower came from veteran Mohammad Nabi, who contributed a composed 62 from 57 deliveries. The innings wrapped up at 293/9 after the full 50 overs – Afghanistan’s second‑largest ODI total to date.

Bowling, meanwhile, belonged to the young fast bowler Bilal Sami. He ripped through Bangladesh’s line‑up, finishing with figures of 5/22. His spell was a masterclass in swing and seam, earning him the man‑of‑the‑match award.

• Afghanistan 293/9 (50 overs)
• Ibrahim Zadran 95 (104)
• Mohammad Nabi 62 (57)
• Bilal Sami 5/22
• Bangladesh 93 all out (30.4 overs)

Bangladesh's Collapse and Coaching Concerns

Chasing 294, Bangladesh faltered from the outset. Opening partners fell cheaply, and a nervous start set the tone. Nine of the eleven batsmen were dismissed in single‑digit scores – a rare, humiliating statistic for a Test‑playing nation.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz managed a modest 12 runs before being bowled by Sami’s inswinger. The lowest‑order contributor, task‑master bowler Taskin Ahmed, could only muster a single run before a sharp catch ended his innings.

The debacle has sparked a flurry of commentary on Bangladesh’s batting preparation. Experts point to a lack of exposure to high‑pace bowling on hard surfaces, a weakness that the ACB will likely target in upcoming training camps.

Implications for World Cup Qualification

With the series win, Afghanistan adds 120 points to their Super League tally, moving them within striking distance of the top‑four automatic qualifiers. Bangladesh, on the other hand, slips further behind, now needing to secure wins against higher‑ranked sides to keep their hopes alive.

Both teams will head back to their home bases with contrasting mind‑sets. Afghanistan can build on momentum, while Bangladesh must regroup quickly – the next few fixtures against West Indies and Sri Lanka will be crucial.

Key Players and Statistics

Beyond the headline figures, a few individual stories deserve a mention:

1. Bilal Sami – his five‑wicket haul is the best ODI performance of his career and the first five‑for by an Afghan bowler in a World Cup‑related series.
2. Ibrahim Zadran – his near‑century came after a long spell without a fifty in ODIs, highlighting his return to form.
3. Mohammad Nabi – at 35, his 62 runs showcased the veteran’s ability to anchor an innings under pressure.
4. Mehidy Hasan Miraz – the captain’s struggle exposed a technical flaw against outswinging deliveries, something coaches will likely address.

Streaming figures also underscored the match’s popularity: the ACB’s official YouTube feed logged a peak of 311,000 concurrent viewers, while the Indian streaming platform FanCode reported over 1.2 million total streams.

What's Next for Both Teams?

Afghanistan will travel to Sri Lanka for a bilateral T20 series in early November, using the momentum to test their batting depth against spin‑friendly pitches. Bangladesh is slated to host a tri‑series with New Zealand and Pakistan later this month, a vital opportunity to recover lost Super League points.

Fans can expect both sides to fine‑tune line‑ups before the final window of the Super League, which concludes in March 2026. The series outcome in Abu Dhabi will likely be remembered as a turning point for Afghan cricket’s rise on the world stage.