Tigers thumped in warm-up

The touring Bangladesh team received a stern reminder of the challenge facing them in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when they were thumped by eight wickets by an Afghan XI -- made up of many of the players they will face in the first match on Sunday -- in their only practice match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun yesterday.

Opener Hazratullah Zazai, not part of the Afghanistan squad, scored an unbeaten 69 as Afghan XI eclipsed Bangladesh's 145 for six with 16 balls to spare in the 20-over match.

A sub-par batting performance from Bangladesh is worrying especially as Afghanistan's star leg-spinner Rashid Khan did not feature in the match. It will be a boost for the Tigers when opener Tamim Iqbal lands in Dehradun after completing his World XI duties this afternoon.

The start of the match was delayed because of a late evening downpour and started at 9:30pm local time instead of the scheduled 8:00pm start. Bangladesh were soon in trouble after choosing to bat, reduced to 14 for two in the third over, with openers Soumya Sarkar (2) and Liton Das (8) both departing. Shakib came in and scored 19 before holing out to midwicket to leave them at 47 for three in the seventh over.

The senior and dependable pair of Mushfiqur Rahim (27) and vice-captain Mahmudullah Riyad (10) departed soon, leaving the Tigers teetering on 76 for five.

It could have been much worse for the Tigers if Mosaddek Hossain, returning to the T20I squad for the first time since the tour of Sri Lanka last April, had not hit a face-saving, unbeaten 22-ball 38 with four fours and a six after coming in at number seven.

However, what seemed like a difficult pitch became a belter during the Afghans' chase. Pacers Abu Jayed and Abu Hider picked up one wicket each.