Buoyant Bangladesh Cricket team is on the threshold of achieving comprehensive series win against West Indies across all formats having already won test series 2-0 and ODI series 2-1.
West Indies is the current T20 world champion. But with several of their T20 big boys not available for different reasons this West Indies team is not in a good shape. Bangladesh even won the last T20 series played in West Indies and USA. Bangladesh at home is now a formidable opposition in any format. However West Indies players love T20 and they have quality of bouncing back anytime. The series that starts today in Sylhet promises witnessing mouth watering contest.
Both teams have announced their squad. West Indies squad misses Chris Gayle, Elvin Lewis, Andre Russel, Sunil Narine, Keiron Pollard. Even without them the squad comprises of explosive batsmen and good enough pace bowling attack for creating challenges for Bangladesh. On the other hand Bangladesh with four of the five fabulous four Shakib, Tamim, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim and inform Mustafiz, Miraz, Liton, Soumya and Saifuddin would be looking for keeping the winning momentum going .
Squad:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Mithun, Mehidy Miraz, Liton K Das, Mohammad Saifuddin, Ariful Haq, Abu Hider, Mostafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossian and Nazmul Islam.
West Indies: Carlos Brathwaite, FA Allan, DM Bravo, SS Cottrel, SO Hetmeyer, SD Hope, E Lewis, KMA Paul, K Peirre, N Pooran, R Powell, D Ramdin, S E Rutherford, O Thomas and KOK Williams.
West Indies strength lies in power hitting over the top and fast bowling. If somehow they can be pinned down with accurate bowling forcing them to play across they are vulnerable. This team does not have Free hitting Gayle, Russel and Pollrad. BUT Lewis, Pooran and Brathwaite are equally destructive. Only batsman who can give stability is DM Bravo. West Indies will either score 180-200 or 120-130. There will be no half measure. I think Mustafiz, Miraj and Shakib will chain the horses with quality bowling.
The real challenge lies in Bangadesh executing batting plan and scoring enough for defending it. Tamim and Soumya at the start can give explosive alert, Shakib can keep it going, Mushfique would give stability. Liton, Mahmudullah, Mithun, Saifuddin and Miraz can all contribute producing the winning score. Mustafiz, Rubel, Shakib, Miraz and Opu can defend 170-180.
West Indies had worst possible tour experience so far .Off the 7 tour matches they won only one ODI. Their experience in India was equally disappointing. But one must not forget that T20 is their favorite format. They may regroup and bounce back strongly.
But at the same time Shakib led Tiger squad would love to finish the wonderful 2018 colorfully.
BDST: 0954 HRS, DEC 17, 2018
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