After a disheartening ODI series, Bangladesh are all set to start afresh in the three-match T20i series against West Indies, with the opening game scheduled for today at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St. Vincent.
The match will commence at 6:00am (BST).
Bangladesh sans key players like Tawhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, are still hopeful to bounce back in the shortest format of the game as Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali Anik are in very good form with the bat. Like the just late ODI series, Soumya Sarkar and Tanzid Hasan Tamim can be seen to open the innings as stand-in captain Litton Das, who had been struggling to score for a long time, likely to bat at three. Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali Anik and Shamim Hossain Patwari will make a solid middle order as Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Ripon Mondol are going to play as seamers, while leggy Rishad Hossain will join with Miraz in the pace unit if Bangladesh think tank doesn't prefer to play with Nasum Ahmed as the 3rd spinner in place of Ripon.
Batting is a big concern for the touring side as Soumya, Tamim Jr, Liton and Afif have been in run draught. They need to step up with confidence against T20 giants like West Indies.
Rovman Powell's West Indies are brimming with confidence despite missing ODI captain Shai Hope and all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford. The hosts' batting depth, led by Keacy Carty, Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran remains a formidable force.
Meanwhile, bowlers Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales and Gudakesh Motie, who shone in the ODIs, will aim to carry their momentum into the T20i format too.
Though West Indies holds the edge in T20i history, leading Bangladesh 9-5 with two no-results in 16 previous meeting. But the Tigers will draw confidence from their past success at Arnos Vale. They registered crucial wins over Nepal and the Netherlands here during the T20 World Cup, proving their ability to adapt to the conditions.
The pitch at Arnos Vale is expected to be slow and low to make power-hitting a challenge. The weather forecast shows a fair and fine day for the game of cricket. Since bowlers will likely dominate and batting first could be advantageous, the toss winning side will prefer to bat first.
