Bangladesh eye rare Test series win
AFP - Bangladesh will be looking for a rare Test series win when they take on the West Indies in the second and final Test at the Sher-e-bangla National Stadium in Dhaka today (30).
The home side lead the two-match series 1-0 thanks to their 64-run win the first Test in Chittagong when their spinners accounted for all 20 West Indies wickets.
A win in Dhaka will give Bangladesh only their fourth Test series win in history and first since 2014 when they triumphed over Zimbabwe 3-0 at home.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan said his team has the ability to overcome the odds.
“We have a challenge and we believe we can overcome this,” Shakib said at the prematch press conference yesterday.
“Naturally, West Indies will also go into the match more excited. They will give their best to win. We have to perform better than them, more than what we did in Chittagong,” he said.
“It will be very special for us if we can win the series 2-0...whatever it requires we are preparing to do that,” he said.
Bangladesh’s chances, however, got a blow when wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim hurt his finger during a training session on Wednesday.
Though Sakib did not rule out Mushfiqur playing the game, the home side had recalled Liton Das as a back-up option.
West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite said he remained optimistic despite the challenge ahead.
“Staying positive on this type of wicket is the key. The bounce varied a lot in the first Test,” said Brathwaite.
“The onus is on ourselves to trust our defence and attacking methods. I think the key is to be light in your feet, and treat each ball as it comes.”
The visitors will miss pace bowler Shannon Gabriel, who was banned from the second Test after being handed two demerit points in the first.
“There will obviously be a balance. Spin did most of the damage in the first Test but it doesn’t mean pacers can’t take wickets,” he said.
SQUADS
BANGLADESH: Shakib al Hasan (Captain), Soumya Sarker, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmud Ullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Ariful Haque, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Shadman Islam.
WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Shermon Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican.
Naturally, West Indies will also go into the match more excited. They will give their best to win. We have to perform better than them, more than what we did in Chittagong