ZCZC
BSP-20
CRICKET-BD-WI-ODI-PREVIEW
Motivated Bangladesh face West Indies in first ODI tomorrow
DHAKA, Dec 8, 2018 (BSS)- Motivated Bangladesh take on West Indies in the
first ODI of the two-match series scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sunday) at
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.
The day/night match kicks off at 1 pm.
The Tigers are coming off the back of a 2-0 Test series victory over the
West Indies having beaten the Caribbean side by an innings and 184 runs in
their last test, thanks in part to Mehidy Hasan Miraz finishing with figures
of 12 for 117 so they will look to carry that momentum into the ODI series.
The return of key two players Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal from injury
may prove vital for Tigers that lacks star power but has the major benefit of
home advantage. They will be boosted by their return and the momentum carried
into this series from winning the Test series too.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is back in the side from a finger injury
while southpaw opener Tamim Iqbal returns after fracturing his left wrist
during the Asia Cup in September. The left-handed batsman looked in great
form in a warm-up match smashing a magnificent knock of 107 from 73 balls
against the Caribbean.
Bangladesh’s strength lies in their experienced middle order, which
includes Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah. Their bowling
attack, too, has also done well recently. Offspin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy
Hasan, who took a match haul of 12 wickets in the second Test in Dhaka, will
be supported by the steady pace of Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Saifuddin.
The West Indies, on the other hand, have a relatively young squad and are
still searching for the right balance and based on their defeat in the warm-
up match, this could be another difficult series for them.
They desperately need one or two of their batsmen to fire and get to grips
with the pitches and spinners, and it may be a tough start for them here. The
visitors however will go to the field with an upper hand as they managed to
win 20 out of 31 matches while Bangladesh won nine matches.
Darren Bravo’s return lends much-needed experience to the batting line-up,
which blew hot and cold in India. A lot will depend on whether their new ODI
captain Rovman Powell and T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite can fire in the slog
overs.
Squads:
Bangladesh (probable): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur
Rahim (wicket keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah,
Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (captain) and Mustafizur
Rahman.
West Indies (probable): Kieran Powell, Shai Hope (wicket keeper), Darren
Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell
(captain), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen/Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach and
Oshane Thomas.
BSS/SG/ARS/1819 hrs