Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk:After the disappointment in the two-match Test series under captain Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh bounced back with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in charge to clinch their first ODI series away from home since 2009.
Once again, the focus will be on T20I skipper Shakib in the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies. It will be important for the champion all-rounder to continue the momentum both as captain and also as the team’s most experienced player in the shortest format of the game.
The visitors will be confident after the 2-1 ODI series win when they lock horns against the hosts in the first T20I at St Kitts tomorrow. The night game is scheduled to take place from 6:30am Bangladesh time.
According to skipper Shakib, the ODI series win should help the squad gain confidence for the shorter format while the Tigers have their sights set on winning the series.
“We are very hopeful for the T20 series and the biggest reason why is that we did pretty well in the ODI format. It’s a big achievement for us to win an ODI series away from home after nine years, so I hope that this confidence will help us in the T20 format and that everyone can play with that confidence.
“However we know that West Indies are a very strong team, especially in the T20 format, and it’s their most favourable format while it’s a difficult format for us. But I believe that we have the ability to play our best cricket and win the series,” Shakib said yesterday at St Kitts.
Bangladesh have managed to win only two games out of 10 this year, which includes the 0-3 whitewash against Afghanistan in Dehradun back in June.
The Tigers have won only two out of six T20Is against the West Indies, with the last one coming in 2011. The last match played between the two sides saw Bangladesh suffer a huge 73-run defeat in Dhaka back in 2014.
But the need for the underperforming juniors to step up is an area that the visitors and new coach Steve Rhodes will have to focus on. Shakib also mentioned that he expects a better show from the junior members of the team.
“There are quite a few players in the T20 format and it’s a very exciting time for them. At the same time it’s a good thing for the BCB and Bangladesh cricket that we are able to get a few new players in this format. As it’s a new format, I hope they will do well,” he said.
On the other hand, West Indies are a much more formidable team when it comes to the shortest format of the game and will surely bank on their power cricket.
Hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle will once again play a huge role alongside Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell and skipper Carlos Brathwaite, all of whom can be devastating against any opponent on their day.
