Dhaka: West Indies Captain Shai Hope won the toss and sent Bangladesh into bat first in the three-match ODI series opening game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. Mahidul Islam Ankon made his debut for Bangladesh in the ODI format, while Soumya Sarkar returned to the fold for the first time since playing in the Champions Trophy with the national jersey in February this year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, these were the two changes to the Bangladesh squad following a whitewash in the Afghanistan series. Bangladesh entered the game with a string of four consecutive defeats, including a 3-0 loss against Afghanistan, in a format once considered their strongest. Since November, the team has managed to secure only two wins in 14 ODIs, with just one victory in 10 matches under the captaincy of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman also returned to the playing XI after missing the third ODI against Afghanistan. The players dropped from the previous ODI were Naim Sheikh, Nahid Rana, Shamim Patwari, and Hasan Mahmud. Captain Miraz expressed confidence in the home conditions, stating that they provide a sense of relief following the recent losing streak. “We love to bat first as well. This is our home ground, and we are confident on this wicket,” Miraz told the broadcasters after the toss.
He emphasized the importance of approaching the game with a fresh mindset, stating, “We talk about so many things, but this is a new game. I hope everybody understands his role and takes it positively. Sometimes poor performance can happen, but we agree that this is a new day, and everybody should do better.”
The West Indies team, meanwhile, has had a mixed year in ODI cricket, drawing a series 1-1 with Ireland, suffering a 3-0 defeat to England in an away series, and securing a 2-1 victory against Pakistan at home. They recently faced a two-match Test series in India, where they were whitewashed. Captain Shai Hope emphasized the significance of adapting quickly to different conditions. “We’re just going to let the bowlers take the first strike this time. The preparation we had in between the Test match and this series was very important. It’s been a bit hectic for the last couple of months, but we just have to make sure we adapt quickly,” Hope said.
He further added, “In these international fixtures, you’ve got to assess quickly and then decide what you need to do and then deliver. It’s crucial for us to start the series well.”
Lineups for the match are as follows: Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Nurul Hasan Sohan (w), Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman. West Indies: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (w/c), Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.