Asia Cup 2025: 'Our main concern is the middle overs' – Bangladesh spin consultant flags key challenge ahead of must-win tie vs Afghanistan

Former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, now serving as Bangladesh’s spin consultant, has shared his thoughts ahead of the team’s must-win Asia Cup 2025 clash against Afghanistan. The two sides will face off on Tuesday, September 16, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Bangladesh began their campaign with a triumphant seven-wicket victory against Hong Kong but lost their second match to Sri Lanka by six wickets. A win against Afghanistan would keep the Litton Das-led unit in contention for a Super Four spot, although their progression would still depend on the outcome of the final group-stage match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Mushtaq revealed that the coaching staff and management are working hard to instill belief in the players ahead of the high-stakes encounter. “You have to believe. The coaches and management keep telling the players that belief is very important. It's difficult, of course, having to rely on ifs and buts, but you have to concentrate on winning the match first,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

Mushtaq on Afghanistan’s Strengths and Bangladesh’s Mindset

When asked about the threats posed by Afghanistan, Mushtaq singled out their spin attack, led by skipper Rashid Khan. “Their spin department is very good, especially in the middle overs. If we can counter their spin well and put a decent score on the board, we can challenge them because our bowling unit is also strong. My main concern is the middle overs,” he explained.

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Emphasizing belief and aggressive intent, Mushtaq urged his players not to dwell on past failures. “Sometimes, early failures lead to losing four or five wickets quickly. We tell our batsmen that such things happen, but they must move on fast. If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow. As coaches, our duty is to prevent them from going into a shell, maintain their confidence, and keep giving them belief. Even failure while playing aggressively makes you a stronger player. Players like Litton, Hridoy, Tanzim, Jaker, and Shamim have shown that even in tough situations, they can find momentum and score 170-180. With good fast bowlers and spinners, and if we get stronger as a team, we can challenge any team,” he added.