Upbeat Bangladesh aim for winning start against Windies

Overview

Bangladesh v Windies1st T20I
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
Monday, 17 December 2018, 12:30 local

The Windies, the reigning World T20 champions, will be without two of their T20 veterans in Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell. While the inclusion of Evin Lewis has bolstered their line-up, the absence of the two star all-rounders will leave a deep hole to be filled.

Couple that with Bangladesh's recent form in T20Is – they won the last series against the Windies 2-1 – and their home advantage, and the balance is shifted in the hosts' favour. They have in-form players, too, to make a strong case for themselves with all of captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Liton Das in good form.

Tamim Iqbal's return from injury will also prop up the top order and the presence of Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Nazmul Islam strengthens the bowling line-up as well.

However, in the last five clashes in the shortest format, the honours are equal with each team winning two matches while one game ended in no result.

For the Windies, while the loss of key players comes as a blow, they have put faith in Shai Hope, who starred in the ODIs, Shimron Hetmyer, the big hitter who held his own in his last tour to India, and Rovman Powell, who led the team in ODIs. They also have experienced players like Darren Bravo, wicket-keeper bat Denesh Ramdin and captain Carlos Brathwaite.

The visitors have an exciting bowling lot, too, with the likes of the pacy Oshane Thomas, who can hurry batsmen up on flat subcontinent wickets, Kesrick Williams, who received a recall to the side, Sheldon Cottrell and Keemo Paul.

Nicolas Pooran offers another wicket-keeping option and Fabien Allen offers left-arm spin, an essential trait to have in T20Is. Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes sees this Windies line-up as "difficult to beat".

"T20 is the best format for the Windies. They are the world champions and they will be very difficult to beat," Rhodes said. "I think the West Indies, with some new players who have arrived here, will be a tough opposition. It's the format that they know very well. We will give it our best shot."

Key Players

**Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh):**Bangladesh's second-highest scorer and top wicket-taker in T20Is, their captain and No.1 all-rounder will have the responsibility to finish the Windies tour on a high by winning the three-match series. He has form on his side too, having managed a half-century and three wickets in the ODI series.

**Shai Hope (Windies):**The man in form for the Windies, and the one who single-handedly won them the second ODI with a magnificent century, will look to continue his good run in the shortest format. He was sent to open in ODIs and an opening partnership in this format alongside Evin Lewis could be fruitful.

Conditions

Scattered showers are expected in Sylhet on Monday and that could play spoil sport. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 to 17 degrees and given it's a day game, players might be spared hot and humid conditions. Sri Lanka put up 210/4 in the last T20I played at this venue and so the surface is expected to be good for batting.

Squads

**Bangladesh:**Shakib Al Hasan (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarker, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Saif Uddin, Abu Hider Rony, Ariful Hoque

**Windies:**Carlos Brathwaite (c), Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Kesrick Williams, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas