BSS, Dhaka :
Despite being morally down following their consistently inconsistent performance, Bangladesh vowed to come all guns blazing in the third and final T20I match against West Indies, starting today at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
The match which starts at 11.30 PM as per Bangladesh Time will be aired live at T Sports Channel.
West Indies are leading the series 1-0 after their comprehensive 35-run victory in the second T20I, while the first game was washed out due to persistent rain. Therefore a defeat in the third game will force Bangladesh to swallow another bitter taste of whitewash after they were swept in two-match Test series.
Bangladesh’s batting was a cause of concern in the Test series and here in the T20I series, they suffered the same problem. They scored just 105-8 in 13 overs in the first game before it was washed out while in the second game, they were restricted to 158-6, chasing a target of 194. In the last game, they were still in a commendable position, despite being left to 23-3 as Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain kept the asking run rate under control. After Afif was dismissed, Shakib gave up the hopes as he appeared to have played just to reduce the margin of the defeat.
Shakib remained not out on 68 off 52 but that mattered little. It exposed an old age problem that Bangladesh are unable to produce a one-man show, which is required in the shortest format of the cricket.
Bangladesh captain Mahmudull Riyad is no exception as he again made it clear, they need to play as a team if they want to avoid the T20I whitewash.
“We are always focused on winning the game,” he said. “But a team like us should play as a team to win the game in T20I cricket. Everyone should have to contribute from their positions. What I understood that, play as a team is our strength. If we can’t do that, it’s not possible for us to win the game.”
Bangladesh brought up two changes in the second game, bringing in Taskin Ahmed and Mosaddek Hossain in the place of Munim Shahriar and Nasum Ahmed. They are likely to tinker with the team again for the third game, which they need to win to draw the series.
Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Munim Shahriar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed.
West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (capt), Rovman Powell (vice-capt), Shamarh Brooks, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Dominic Drakes (reserve player).
