Bangladesh eye clean sweep of West Indies

Having won the first Test of the series against the visitors, Bangladesh will seek to complete a clean sweep when they meet West Indies in the 2nd and final Test beginning on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan insisted that they have nothing in mind but a consecutive second win in Test against the opponent who defeated them in July last by a 2-0 margin in a two-match Test series will be something special.

In Chattogram, the hosts rolled over West Indies by their spin arsenal comprising Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and newbie Nayeem Hasan and beat them by 64 runs. 

Shakib indicated on Thursday that they might love to go in the middle with four spinners once again. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of keeping reliance on pace bowlers. 

“It was exciting (to play four spinners) and it was challenging, too. The spinners always prefer to bowl for long spells. Everyone tried their best to perform according to the team plan,” Shakib told a pre-match press meet. 

“The wicket of Dhaka also helps the fast-bowlers, especially in the morning during the foggy weather,” Bangladesh captain added. 

Bangladesh won a Test series against the Caribbeans back in 2009. Since then, they have never repeated the same act in spite of playing four series both at the home and abroad. But this time around, the Tigers have a golden chance to write a new history. 

The Bangladesh skipper believes that a win of 2-0 margin over West Indies will be a special one for the Tigers. 

The fate of the second Test will heavily rely on the condition of Dhaka as the wicket of Sher-e-Bangla is unpredictable as always. Shakib acknowledged it once again in the pre-match press meet.

“It will be helpful to play in Dhaka with an open mind. The wicket of Mirpur is unpredictable as always. I can say that the wicket will be like this, but it can’t be taken as inevitable. The wickets are like this everywhere in the world. It’s not easy to predict a wicket just watching it,” Shakib said.

Bangladesh will surely need to make one change in the playing XI as Imrul Kayes who played in Chattogram was ruled out due to injury. Sadman Islam, the southpaw opener, might get his Test cap in Dhaka as the replacement of Imrul. Liton Das might also get a chance as a specialist wicketkeeper as regular wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim is uncertain to keep the wicket due to blow on his hand that he sustained during a practice session on Wednesday. If Liton gets a chance, Mohammad Mithun might need to sit away. 

One change is inevitable for the West Indians too as Shannon Gabriel, the right-arm fast bowler, was suspended for the Dhaka Test as his demerit points reached five. Keemo Paul or Raymon Reifer, the other fast bowler of West Indies Test squad, might replace Shannon in Dhaka. 

Kraigg Brathwaite, the interim captain of West Indies, expressed his desire at the pre-match conference to win in Dhaka and level the series. As regards of their goal in the Dhaka Test, the Caribbean captain said, “We have to believe in our own game plan and perform accordingly in the field.”

Probable XI of Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Sadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahiim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taiujul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman

Probable XI of West Indies: Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Kieran Powell, Devendra Bishoo, Keemo Paul, Shane Dowrich (wk), Sunil Ambris, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Jomel Warrican and Roston Chase.

Source: unb