Rishad Aims to Win Final Match Against Afghanistan Ahead of West Indies Series Preparation

Bangladesh fell behind in the series after losing the two-match ODI series against Afghanistan. On Tuesday, the team will aim to avoid a whitewash. Immediately after, they are set to play a limited-overs series at home against the West Indies. By winning the final match against Afghanistan, the Tigers hope to carry forward the momentum and maintain their confidence.

For direct qualification to the 2027 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh must secure a spot in the top eight of the ICC ODI rankings by March 31, 2027. Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe have already confirmed their qualification. A series win against Afghanistan would have made the path significantly easier for Bangladesh.

Speaking to the media ahead of the final ODI, Rishad Hossain said, “Since we have lost the first two matches, we are 0-2 in the series. Our plan now is simple — to win the last match and return home with confidence, then focus on how to perform better in the next series.”

Bangladesh will play 24 more ODIs before the World Cup, facing opponents including West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and India, moving steadily toward their goal.

Rishad emphasized the team’s unwavering confidence, “Everyone is 100 percent sure that we will play the World Cup directly. We are not worried about qualifying or anything else. We are focused, and In Sha Allah, we will play the World Cup directly.”

Acknowledging the team’s mistakes, Rishad added, “As a team, we admit that everyone makes some mistakes. We are working on correcting these errors and identifying what’s working and what’s not. Hopefully, we will fix these issues very soon.”