Afghanistan have started their World Twenty20 campaign with a disappointing 9 wicket defeat to hosts Bangladesh in the tournament opener.

Afghanistan's innings got off to an awful start when Mohammad Shahzad miscued an attempted lofted cover drive and was caught first ball. This brought Gulbadin Naib to the crease to join Najeeb Tarakai, and whilst Naib struggled to avoid slogging, and gave several chances, the pair did consolidate the innings somewhat with a 36 run partnership.

After a Naib slog over cow corner was just missed by the fielder and went for four, he attempted the same shot again the next ball and was caught, having made 21. Najeeb Tarakai chipped it into the covers from the next ball, and was also caught, leaving Afghanistan reeling.

Skipper Mohammad Nabi kept out the hat-trick ball and survived an appeal for a stumping that was referred to the third umpire from his second ball, but soon afterwards Nowroz Mangal was run out from the first ball he faced after some sensational fielding from Bangladesh. Mohammad Nabi scored a single from the next ball, ending a run of six balls in which the Afghans had lost three wickets for no runs.

Nabi and Karim Sadiq were unable to recover the innings, putting on only 13 for the fifth wicket before Nabi was out for just 3. Karim Sadiq was next out having scored 10, before Samiullah Shenwari and Shafiqullah took the score to 69-6. The lower order then collapsed to 72 all out. Shakib Al Hasan took the last wicket to fall to finish with figures of 3-8.

Bangladesh opened their reply with a partnership of 45 before Shenwari – who was brought on way too late on what was a pitch tailor made for his style of bowling – had Tamim Iqbal dismissed lbw.

Some over the top appealing and verbal altercations at one point caused umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth to have words with Afghanistan's captain Mohammad Nabi in an effort to calm things down.

In the end, Afghanistan's total simply wasn't enough, and Bangladesh completed a nine wicket win with eight overs to spare. Anamul Haque finished the match by hitting a six to take his score to 44 not out, the highest score of the match.

A disappointing start for Afghanistan then, and they will hope to bounce back when they take on Hong Kong in their next tournament match on Tuesday.