After the enthralling three weeks of Champions League, normal service resumes between the international teams with West Indies and Bangladesh kick starting the action. The series between two teams parked at bottom of the ICC rankings has had a low-key build-up but both teams would be looking to prove their mettle.
Bangladesh’s disastrous Zimbabwe tour where they lost the one-off Test as well as the five match ODI series necessitated a change of guard and the selectors have handed over the reins to wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim. While ex-captain and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan is still a vital member of the team, the new skipper has to deliver results in the home series to justify his elevation.
West Indies, on the other hand, have landed in Bangladesh after a satisfactory result in the two-match T20 series against England. They have some exciting young players in the squad like spinner Garey Mathurin who impressed one and all in England. But, the continued absence of Chris Gayle due to whatever reason has hampered the team prospects big time. The kind of form Gayle demonstrated for Bangalore in the recently concluded Champions League definitely brings up the question, how long West Indies have to suffer before the concerned parties realize their folly.
On paper, the Darren Sammy led side looks light on experience especially in the batting department. The absence of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo puts pressure on the likes of Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell to perform in the lower-middle order. Fortunately for the visitors, Marlon Samuels has been in good knick in the tour games, scoring a century in the T20 against BCB XI. He has also been cleared to bowl his off-spinners which may come handy for the side on the spin friendly tracks.
As things stand, hosts Bangladesh will heavily bank on their army of spinners to keep the West Indian batting under control, where as, West Indies would hoping for an explosive knock from Pollard to start the tour on a winning note.
Squads
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Mahmudullah (vc), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Adrian Barath, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Danza Hyatt, Anthony Martin, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons
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