Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

Different country, same situation.

West Indies’ tour of Bangladesh has taken incredibly similar shape to Bangladesh’s tour of the Caribbean in July. The tourists were thrashed in the Tests on both occasions, with the entire series barely lasting longer than the length of a single Test. The ODI series offered much more competitive cricket in the Caribbean, and West Indies will be hoping for a successful ODI series in what has been a lean period of results.

Who will start the series with a win?

Bangladesh welcome back Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, who have been, and will continue to be, central to Bangladesh’s ODI success. With a World Cup fast approaching, Bangladesh will be pleased to have a full squad on deck for this one, and will be keen to dish out a second ODI series defeat to West Indies in a single year. The hosts also have a good mix of pace and spin in their bowling attack, and have an opportunity to heap further pain on a West Indies side that ended their ODI series in India in awful fashion.

Changes are also prevalent in the West Indies line up. Rovman Powell, perhaps surprisingly, leads the Windies in their quest to improve their form ahead of the World Cup, in which a more consistent batting display is crucial. In addition to losing the series earlier this year, West Indies have lost three of their last four series to today’s opposition, and will be looking to spoil the party in what is a time of optimism in Bangladesh right now.

Key to a Bangladesh win

Bangladesh welcome back plenty of experience in this clash, and much of the onus will be on the batsmen to pile the pressure on the Windies. Tamim Iqbal returns to the side boasting an average of 90.16 in nine ODIs this year, and in additional encouragement for Bangladesh, Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarkar have been in excellent white-ball form, with the latter joining Tamim in scoring a whirlwind hundred in the tour game. Can the top three set things up for Bangladesh’s middle order, containing the experience of Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah?

Also, the Windies’ reliance on Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer was prevalent in India, and Bangladesh have a chance to get into the tourists’ line up if they can contain these two players. Mustafizur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza continue to be a threat at home, and with Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan sure to aim to put the squeeze, Bangladesh can look to pressurize the Windies batsmen in all three stages of the innings.

Key to a West Indies win

How well will the Windies batting hold up?

Darren Bravo returns to the ODI side after two years, and has been in strong white-ball form in 2018. He needs to sure up a batting line up that blew hot and cold in India, reliant on Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer scoring runs. These two youngsters are key again, but the likes of Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels must step up to help set a platform for Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite to launch. Both Powell and Samuels have been in poor form for the Windies in recent times, so eyes will be on them here.

Also, can the Windies breakthrough early with the ball? They were able to at times against a magnificent India top three recently, and are faced with the challenge of an experienced Bangladesh line up. A key factor in this game is how well the Windies can dry up the boundaries, forcing Bangladesh to score in singles and twos; an area of their game they haven’t been particularly great at over the years. For that, the spinners will be key in the middle overs, and so too Kemar Roach and Oshane Thomas at the top, who can help push Bangladesh onto the back foot.

Possible teams

This will be quite a different Bangladesh side that took to the field in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe recently, with players coming back from injury and rest.

Bangladesh possible XI: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Imrul Kayes, 3. Soumya Sarkar, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Ariful Haque/Mohammad Mithun, 8. Mohammad Saifuddin, 9. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 10. Mashrafe Mortaza (c), 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Rovman Powell will lead West Indies in the absence of Jason Holder. Carlos Brathwaite will be called upon for a solid allround performance, in conjunction with good batting and bowling efforts from his mates.

West Indies possible XI: 1. Kieran Powell, 2. Shai Hope (wk), 3. Darren Bravo, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Marlon Samuels, 6. Roston Chase, 7. Rovman Powell (c), 8. Carlos Brathwaite, 9. Devendra Bishoo/Fabian Allen, 10. Kemar Roach, 11. Oshane Thomas

Dream11

Should Bangladesh dominate your Dream11? Below is my side with a few pointers.

• Both wicketkeepers are good options, but Mushfiqur Rahim at home is a good pick.
• Shimron Hetmyer has been in excellent touch, and so too Imrul Kayes in white-ball cricket.
• Tamim Iqbal makes my side, but if you wish to proceed with caution as he is only just returning from injury, that’s fair enough. However, he dominated with a big hundred in the tour game.
• Shakib Al Hasan captains my side.
• Three seamers make up the bowling attack, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz an economical and wicket-taking option.

Stats and Facts

• Bangladesh have won three of the last four ODI series vs West Indies.
• Tamim Iqbal is averaging 90.16 in nine ODIs in 2018.
• Kieran Powell needs five runs to reach 1,000 in ODIs.

Prediction

Bangladesh continue to improve as an ODI unit, and at home, I predict they will go 1-0 up against a West Indies side short of confidence.

Thanks for reading!