Will Tigers proceed with proven template?

Bangladesh will enter the 2023 World Cup spotlight today, hoping that their tactical matchups will find merit against an Afghanistan side that have been inconsistent in the build-up to the showpiece event.

Both sides would love early points and Afghanistan's spin threat may once again dictate Bangladesh's batting template, especially in countering Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

The Tigers successfully employed Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the opening slot in the last game -- an Asia Cup fixture -- between the two sides. Miraz struck a ton in that clash and managed to read the Afghan spinners from the hand.

Since then, the all-rounder had been carrying belief and form with the bat, having struck 67 and 74 in the warm-up fixtures against Sri Lanka and England, respectively.

Miraz could once again open the innings given that Afghanistan have usually bowled Mujeeb right at the start. Whether Tanzid Hasan Tamim opens the innings also remains to be seen given Mujeeb's threat with the new ball against left-handers in particular.

The Tigers' pace attack would be eying the conditions in Dharamshala where swing and seam are expected early. The presence of right-handers in the Afghanistan batting order may force Bangladesh to opt for both left-armers -- Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam -- in the lineup, with the latter being particularly successful against Afghanistan recently.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed may also be asked to do a job in the spin department but he could face stiff competition from in-form Sheikh Mahedi Hasan.

However unlikely but it remains to be seen whether the Tigers will field up to four quicks from their five choices. Even with three pacers and skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Miraz acting as spinners, Nasum and Mahedi could be benched if the think tank opts to proceed without a sixth specialist bowling option.

"The wickets look really good for one day cricket, I thought; very firm wicket, nice covering of grass. I think it's a really good sporting wicket. Expecting some high-scoring on this ground," Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha had said about the wicket yesterday.

"The combination we will decide tomorrow (Saturday) morning and see the wicket again because the curator said that he will do a little bit of work today (Friday) as well on that wicket."

Despite the shortcomings of the Afghanistan batting order against top quality pace, Bangladesh would be aware of the solidity and firepower the Afghan opening pair of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz provide at the top.

Bangladesh themselves would be banking on the middle-order solidity of Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad. Thus, Bangladesh's pace attack and the middle order's contribution could be key areas to grab early World Cup points.