Dhaka: Bangladesh will try to end their dismal form in the ODI format as they take on West Indies in the three-match series opening game tomorrow (Saturday) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The match starts at 1.30 PM. T Sports and Nagorik TV will telecast the match live.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh would come into the game after being swept by Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series recently. While they lost all three matches without minimum resistance, what was most disrespectful for them was that they were not able to play full 50 overs in any match and were also bowled out in less than 30 overs in the last two matches.
If that is a worrying sign, then another statistic is that Bangladesh has now lost their last four ODI series, including the Afghanistan series, dating back to November last year. Since then, they have won two out of 14 matches in a format that was long dubbed as their strongest suit.
However, amid the dismal statistics, what can give them some relief is that all of those four series defeats came on overseas grounds, and the last time they played an ODI series at home in March 2024, they won the series 2-1 against Sri Lanka.
There is another statistic to cherish: Bangladesh also whitewashed West Indies in a three-match ODI series when the Caribbean side toured here for the last time in 2021. Moreover, West Indies are the only Test nation apart from Zimbabwe, against whom Bangladesh won ODI matches on a regular basis.
As per overall statistics, West Indies still have the edge over Bangladesh, winning 24 and losing 21 in 47 matches. The rest of the two matches were abandoned. When Bangladesh play in Mirpur, the confidence remains sky-high, largely because of the slowness of the pitch, where overseas countries tend to struggle.
Despite hitting the lowest ebb in the ODI format, Bangladesh are confident that they can turn things around by winning the series against West Indies. However, West Indies coach Darren Sammy had already shown his concern about the pitch, saying that ‘he had never seen anything like that before.’
Sammy expects that playing in India ahead of the Bangladesh series will help their batters to get used to the conditions as early as possible. ‘I think we all know the challenge that the subcontinent brings, especially to our batters. I think coming from India is something that is of advantage for the guys who have gotten used to such, or the closest conditions you’ll get,’ he said.
Despite a disappointing result against Afghanistan, Bangladesh didn’t make many changes to the squad. Only Mahidul Islam Ankon got a maiden call-up in the ODI format, and Soumya Sarkar returned to the fold, replacing Naim Sheikh and fast bowler Nahid Rana.
Bangladesh Squad: Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumy Sarker, Mohammed Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Patwari, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud.
West Indies Squad: Shai Hope (c), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.