Bangladesh managed some reprieve as they picked up three quick wickets after a hammering in the initial stages by Afghanistan in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan provided the Tigers with their first breakthrough by dismissing Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second of the three-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday.

Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz recorded the the highest-ever ODI stand for the country as they put on 223 runs after the completion of the 34th over in the second of the three-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday.   

Soon after arriving for their practice session in the morning, the Bangladesh team appeared to be in good spirits as they warmed up with a football session. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was seen telling one of the other players to move, perhaps to initiate better link-up play and the kind of vibrancy that game was played with clearly showed they were enjoying themselves.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon said that the board still considers Tamim Iqbal as their ODI captain and that it will wait and hope for a change of heart from the opener, who had shocked the nation earlier on Thursday with the news of his retirement from international cricket.

Right-handed batter Rony Talukdar was named as replacement for former Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal, who announced his retirement on Thursday.

Bangladesh goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico was pleasantly surprised to have won the best goalkeeper award despite his team being eliminated from the semifinals of the recently concluded SAFF Championship.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal said he knew there was a risk involved in playing the first ODI of the Afghanistan series, as he was not feeling a 'hundred per cent'. His decision was to learn how much he was able to cope with facing the challenge of playing Afghanistan in an international game while worrying about injury concerns.

Expectations were sky-high as Bangladesh came into the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan on a phenomenal run of form in the 50-over format and following a record 546-run win in the lone Test against the same opposition, but that sense of superiority was dented by a quality bowling attack from the visitors as Bangladesh could post just 169 for nine in their 43 overs in the first ODI in Chattogram yesterday.

Afghanistan clinched the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh by 17 runs (DLS) after rain interrupted play for the third time at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Rain interrupted play for a third time in the first ODI of the three-match series between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz got dismissed for a 44-ball 22 by Shakib Al Hasan after giving the visitors a steady start while chasing Bangladesh's 164 in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Towhid Hridoy brought up his third ODI fifty to help Bangladesh to 169 for nine in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

A second rain interruption caused the first ODI between Bangladesh and Afghanistan to be reduced to 43 overs per side at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had a disappointing outing with the bat as he perished for a 35-ball 14, while the other veteran Mushfiqur Rahim went back after scoring one run

A lack of experience in the longest format of the game and the absence of some of their regular cricketers saw Afghanistan succumb to a massive 546-run defeat against Bangladesh in the lone Test in Mirpur last month.

The Bangladesh team management is likely to opt for a similar strategy dependent on their pace options for their ODI opener against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Tuesday.

The 50-over format is Bangladesh's strongest suit and this is backed up by their winning percentage in ODIs but Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi didn't want to ponder too much about the hosts' pedigree and backed his side, underlining their desire to win.

Bangladesh went ahead with their training plans in their very first session at Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium behind closed doors yesterday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had informed on Saturday night that the gates would remain closed and no access would be given to 'facilitate' the closed-door session.

Mohammad Shahzad returned to the side after almost two years as Afghanistan named a 16-member squad for the two-match T20I series against Bangladesh on Sunday.