The young brigade of West Indies will take on Bangladesh in the first ODI of the series. It will mark the first international assignment for Bangladesh after the COVID outbreak.
Match Timings: Jan 20, 11 AM IST
Team Preview
Bangladesh is also taking the first step to start the international matches at home. Tigers played its last game one year ago against Zimbabwe. This new series will also welcome Shakib, who came back after serving a one-year suspension. Shakib was Bangladesh's Test and T20I captain before the ban. Tamim also has the big responsibility to carry the glory of former captain Murtaza who was dropped after the 2019 World Cup. They have included two newcomers Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud. Mahedi Hasan has also earned the ODI call-up after an impressive performance in Tests. Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam, and Mohammad Naim were not considered for this series, along with Murtaza. Shoriful Islam was part of Bangladesh's U19 World Cup triumph, and his left-arm spin will boost Bangladesh’s spin attack. Hasan Mahmud is a quick pacer and also earned a T20I call-up last year. They have also done well in the recently concluded Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
The hosts are a dangerous side at home, and they are firm favorites against a weak West Indies unit. After 2016, they haven’t lost any ODI bilateral series at home, and the records put them ahead. All the players have played in the domestic T20 tournament. Liton Das and Tamim both were pretty consistent in Bangabandhu Cup, scoring more than 300 runs. Mustafizur Rahman picked most 22 wickets in the tournament at an average of 11.04. The young Islam bagged 16 scalps, and Mahummed picked 11 wickets. This Bangladesh side is a tough side to beat in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, West Indies will miss its key players in this series as most of the players withdraw from the tour. Former Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies A captain Jason Mohammed will lead the ODI team, and Sunil Ambris will be the vice-captain. All-round left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, and a left-handed top-order batsman, Kjorn Ottley, earned the ODI callup. West Indies played two series in England and New Zealand after the COVID outbreak. Few players were picked from West Indies A squad and Caribbean T20 League. Hayden Walsh Jr made his debut in 2019, and he would be a key player considering the spin in Dhaka. There is a slight possibility of ODI being played without DRS.
It’s a clash of youngsters and experienced unit. The series will be played under CWC Super-series, and both sides will kick off its preparation for the world cup qualification. West Indies even came close to the elimination last time but made into the final of the qualifiers. They have to play out of its skin to pull off something terrific. Bangladesh is going to win this series.
Pitch Report
Shere Bangla Stadium is a good batting surface. Spinners will have a command due to its sluggish behavior. The pitch will be better later, the match progresses. We can expect a score of 270-300 while batting first. The first 10 overs will be crucial against the pace.
Possible XI
West Indies
Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva (w), Andre McCarthy, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Mohammed (c), Rovman Powell, Kyle Mayers, Jahmar Hamilton, Raymon Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Chemar Holder
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Rubel Hossain/Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin/Mahedi Hasan
Key Players
West Indies
Alzarri Joseph
ODI career – M: 27, Wickets: 48, Avg: 28.58
Jason Mohammed
ODI career – M: 27, Runs: 527, Avg: 23.96
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal
Bangabandhu Cup 2020 – M: 9, Runs: 324, Avg: 49.121
Mustafizur Rahman
Bangabandhu Cup 2020 – M: 10, Wickets: 22, Avg: 11.04
