Pride at stake for Tigers

Having already lost the three-match T20I series with a game in hand, a dejected Bangladesh team will look to avoid a whitewash against a spirited Afghanistan side in the third and final match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun today.

But it will be a tough ask for the Tigers to overcome two major weaknesses -- their batting against the dangerous leg spin of Rashid Khan and the death-overs bowling -- that cost them in the two defeats.

Bangladesh were not able to display the collective approach that saw them reach the final of the Nidahas Trophy just two months ago in Sri Lanka, and once again confidence will be the key for the visitors to make a comeback and avoid a clean sweep.

Man of the moment Rashid has been devastating in both games for Bangladesh.  The variations of the top-ranked T20I bowler in world cricket have troubled most batsmen around the world, as seen during the recent Indian Premier League. In such situations however, teams have looked to limit risks against the leg-spinner and focused on picking him for singles, but seven wickets from seven overs so far show that Bangladesh have failed even in that task. In the second game, skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal lost their wickets after they went after Rashid out of frustration when their ploy to play him out for minimal damage did not work.

Afghanistan have two more lethal spin weapons in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi who have cashed in on the slow and low pitch and the fact that Bangladesh batsmen will look to charge them to compensate for Rashid's squeeze midway through the innings.

Meanwhile, the pace bowling department is arguably the biggest concern for Bangladesh. Despite his 10-year experience of international cricket, Rubel Hossain has been unable to implement his skills when it matters most.

Despite posting a small target of 135 runs, Bangladesh did manage to take the game down to the wire in the second T20I, but when Afghanistan required 20 from the last two overs Rubel conceded 20 in just five deliveries, 16 of them from bowling half-volleys at Mohammad Nabi's pads.

The team management will surely make a few changes for the final game to avoid the whitewash. On the other hand, the changes Afghanistan make will be because of the luxury of already having won their fourth T20I bilateral series against Test-playing opposition, and the first against the Tigers.