Wed Nov 06 10:24:01 UTC 2024: ## Afghanistan Stumble Early as Taskin Ahmed Strikes in Sharjah ODI
**Sharjah, UAE:** Afghanistan’s hopes for a dominant start to their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh were dampened in the opening match on Wednesday as Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell cheaply in the second over.
Taskin Ahmed, bowling with pace and precision, got the crucial breakthrough, dismissing Gurbaz for just 7 runs. The Afghan opener, who had been in fine form recently, looked to drive but edged the ball to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
The early wicket came after a tense start for Afghanistan, with the Bangladesh bowlers keeping things tight. Despite a few deliveries that strayed down the leg side, the Afghan batsmen were unable to capitalize, facing a barrage of dot balls.
The match began with Afghanistan looking to capitalize on their recent success against South Africa, while Bangladesh aimed to bounce back from their recent Test series loss to the same opponent.
The series marks Bangladesh’s return to Sharjah after a 29-year absence.
With Gurbaz out early, it remains to be seen how Afghanistan will respond and whether they can build a strong foundation to chase down a challenging target.
First Piper 