Tamim starts and Shakib returns as Tigers bat against Afghanistan

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl in their first of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. 

After missing the lone Test against the Afghans due to recurring back pain last month, ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal is back in action even after saying that he is not at a 'hundred per cent'. However, the left-hander, who has drawn a lot of attention due to his injury over the last few days, will be under pressure to prove himself, especially with this series being treated as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup. 

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan also returns to action after having missed the third ODI of Ireland tour in May and the one-off Test against Afghanistan due to a finger injury. 

Meanwhile, captain Tamim also informed that Afif Hossain, who was dropped from the squad due to poor form following the home series against England last March, is back in the team as the 'seventh batter'.

Bangladesh are going with three pacers for the game -- Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman.   

Bangladesh hold a decent record against the Afghans in the format, winning seven of the eleven encounters between the two. The four other matches were won by Afghanistan. The Tigers also won their last series against the opposition 2-1 at home last year. 

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Hasan Mahmud

Afghanistan: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 9 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 10 Azmatullah Omarzai, 11 Mohammad Saleem