Bangladesh is looking to fight back as they face West Indies in their crucial second T20I of the three-match series scheduled to be held on Sunday (Aug 5) at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill in Florida.
The match will kick off at 6 am.
The Tigers will have to win the second match to save the series following their seven wickets defeat in the first T20I.
While a win will lead the Caribbean to clinch the series with one match to spare. The venue so far hosted six T20I games, with the most recent one between India and West Indies in 2016 which was abandoned due to rain.
The two Tigers openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar got out for a golden duck in the first T20I. From the Bangladesh point of view it’s very important to make a good start by the openers in the crucial second match, especially Tamim who is in tremendous form and skipper Shakib Al Hasan, the left hander who is also in good form.
Bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman made his comeback in a grand style in the opening match picking up two wickets. He is expected to continue showing his good form in the second match.
In Bangladesh’s dilapidated innings in the first T20I, Mahmudullah was the only batsman to shine with the bat making a confident 35 runs in the middle that helped Bangladesh to post a decent total of 143 after a shaky start. He is also one of those Tigers batsman who must flare up in the crucial second match to make the difference.
Though the T20 format will not be easy for the Tigers because they will have to play without Mashrafe and secondly T20s are the West Indies’ strongest suit. The responsibility now lies on Shakib Al Hasan as well as the youngsters to fill the absence of Mashrafe.
West Indies have a good record against Bangladesh in T20 cricket, West Indies have won four and Bangladesh 2 out of seven matches they have played against each other, while one game ended-up without any result.
West Indies have batsmen like Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Rovman Powell, Badree, Andre Fletcher, Carlos Brathwaite and Denesh Ramdin who strengthens the squad. It will certainly be a much tougher challenge than the one that was posed before the Bangladesh team over the past week.
On the other hand, the Caribbean side is still undefeated; Lauderhill had
won all their three games before the washout against India. They also posted their highest total of 209 for two against New Zealand in this venue winning
by 56 runs back in 2012.
Probable squads:
Bangladesh – Mosaddek Hossain, Tamim Iqbal, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam, Rubel Hossain.
West Indies – Evin Lewis, Marlon Samuels, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Andre Fletcher, Chadwick Walton, Denesh Ramdin, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Kesrick Williams, Samuel Badree, Sheldon Cottrell.
