Dhaka – Bangladesh will play hosts West Indies in the first match of the three-match T20I series Wednesday morning (Bangladesh time) at Warner Park, Basseterre in St Kitts.The match will kick off at 6:30 am Bangladesh time.Bangladesh are likely to make five changes to the squad that played the ODI series against the hosts.
This will be the first-ever three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and West Indies. Among their previous six T20I meetings, Bangladesh got two wins against three losses while one match saw no result since their first meeting in September 2007.
The 2nd and 3rd T20Is will be held at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, in Florida of the USA on August 4 and 5 respectively.
Five cricketers — Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Islam Apu and Abu Jayed Chwodhury Rahi–are expected to be included in the T20 squad for the first match in place of ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Anamul Haque Bijoy and Nazmul Hossain.
The current tour is over for ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as he retired from T20I last year. Anamul Haque Bijoy, Nazmul Hossain and Abul Hasan were three other cricketers who also finished their West Indies tour.
Staging a strong comeback from the 0-2 drubbing in the Test series, the Tigers clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1 which boosted their morale.
Bangladesh have plenty of batting experiences in their ranks. Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, the senior cricketers, but that only underscores Bangladesh’s overdependence on the senior pros.
From the XI Bangladesh fielded against Afghanistan in June, Abu Hider is likely to make way for Mustafizur Rahman, while Ariful Haque could retain his place at No. 7, ahead of Sabbir Rahman. Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das are likely to bat in the top order with Tamim Iqbal.
Mustafizur Rahman will once again lead the bowling attack, with Rubel Hossain, Abu Hider or Abu Jayed Chowdhury for company in the pace department.
Having chastening defeat in the ODIs, West Indies would look to bounce back in the three-match T20I series, a format in which they are known to play with more flamboyance. Bangladesh would be at the other end of the confidence spectrum, having just won an ODI series away from home for the first time since 2009.
West Indies have plenty of firepower to call upon, despite the absence of Chris Gayle who was rested. They have Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher in the top order, alongside Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, an in-form Rovman Powell, and returning Andre Russell, to bat through the 20 overs.
Bangladesh (probable): Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah, Ariful Haque, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain/Nazmul Islam Apu and Abu Jayed Chowdhury.
West Indies (probable): Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Keemo Paul, Ashley Nurse, Samuel Badree and Kesrick Williams.
Itinerary of T201 series:
July 31 1st T20I Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts
Aug 4 2nd T20I Lauderhill, Florida, USA
Aug 5 3rd T20I Lauderhill, Florida, USA,UNB
