Bangladesh will face West Indies today in the 3rd and last One Day International (ODI) match of the three-match Dhaka Bank ODI series at the Warner Park, Saint Kitts in West Indies. The day/night affair starts at 12.30 am BST (Bangladesh Standard Time).
West Indies already clinched the ODI series 2-0.
Bangladesh tasted a three-wicket defeat to West Indies in the first ODI at the National Stadium, Saint Georges in Grenada on August 20.
The Tigers conceded a huge 177-run defeat to the Caribbeans in the second ODI at the same venue on August 22. It is painful that the touring Bangladesh were shot out for a meagre 70 runs in the second ODI.
Before today’s encounter, Bangladesh faced West Indies in the 27 ODI matches. Of them, West Indies posted 18 wins while Bangladesh won seven matches and the two matches were abandoned.
Bangladesh’s performance in West Indies is better than that of their home soil or in the neutral venues.
Bangladesh met West Indies in nine ODI matches in West Indies. West Indies recorded six wins while Bangladesh composed three wins.
Bangladesh and West Indies are almost same in strength. West Indies are in the 8th position, according to the ICC ranking while Bangladesh are in the 9th spot.
Bangladesh’s batsmen seemed absolutely reckless in the second ODI resulted a humiliating 177 runs defeat. They threw their wickets irresponsibly but there is a lot more than Imrul Kayes’s unnecessary hook or Mahmudullah Riyad’s careless prod to Narine that contributed to this thumping defeat.
Expectation was high from opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, who scored a brilliant century in the first match, but he also dismayed the fans with his irresponsible.
Except Tamim Iqbal, all Tigers batsman failed to reach double digit in the face of West Indies tight bowling attack. So, the batsmen have to show some extraordinary performance to fight back in the last ODI to restore their pride.
Bangladesh team arrived in Basseterre, St Kitts to play the third ODI and the solitary T20. They won their only ODI here in July 2009 and Mushfiqur said the batting would have to be much better if Bangladesh want to avoid 0-3. “We have played in St Kitts before,” Mushfiqur said. “The wicket is flat and the ground is comparatively smaller. But wherever you play, you have to do the job properly.
“Their bowlers will be the same, so we have to bat more responsibly. Our ball selection has to be better. When the bowlers don’t get any help from the wicket, the onus is on the batsmen to do well.”
After the second ODI, the Bangladesh Cricket Board management must be in a dilemma as they have to take a quick decision about star all rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s suspension.
The only T20i between the two sides will be played on August 27 at the same venue. Bangladesh will play the first Test against West Indies on September 5-9 at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent while the second and final Test will be played on September 13-17 at the Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old slow left-arm bowler Taijul Islam is expected to be a part of Bangladesh’s T20I squad in the West Indies. This is the spinner’s first international tour as a member of the national side.
Three other cricketers – Shafiul Islam, Shuvagata Hom and Robiul Islam -joined the Bangladesh camp in the West Indies as members of the Test squad. Abdur Razzak will return after the ODI series ends with Taijul may even get an opportunity to make a Test debut.
Last season Taijul had taken 55 first-class wickets at an average of 22.70. It included four ten-wicket match hauls. A useful bowler in T20 cricket as well, Taijul bowled at good economy rates — 5.71 and 6.56 — in the last two seasons.
The 16 crore cricket lovers of the country want to watch positive approach from their side but Mushfiqur Rahim-led squad failed to fulfill the quench of them.
However, the cricket viewers of Bangladesh expect that Bangladesh will give close fight against their counterpart in today’s encounter.
