The team is set to face the West Indies with the goal of showcasing their best performance with both bat and ball. The first match of the two-Test series will begin today, Friday, at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua at 8 PM Bangladesh time.
After losing four consecutive Tests, Bangladesh is entering the series against the West Indies. The Tigers previously lost two matches in India and two at home to an inexperienced South Africa.
Before the series against India and South Africa, Bangladesh had shown a different face in Tests. During the Pakistan tour, they won the two-match series 2-0, setting a unique record by defeating Pakistan in a Test series for the first time.
Before the main battle against the West Indies, Bangladesh played a warm-up match. The two-day match at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua ended in a draw, with the team making significant preparations. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 253 runs and then bowled out the West Indies for 87 runs, taking nine wickets. Left-arm spinner Hasan Murad achieved a hat trick, claiming three wickets for one run in just 1.4 overs.
Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also joined the list of wicket-takers. Hasan and Taskin took two wickets each, while Shoriful and Miraz took one apiece. However, Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam went wicketless.
In batting, players had short practice innings. Zakir Ali scored 48, Mahidul Islam Ankon made 41, and Mominul Haque and wicketkeeper Liton Das each scored 31 runs.
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, the venue for the first Test, holds an unpleasant record for Bangladesh. During their 2018 tour, the Tigers were all out for just 43 runs in the first innings of the first Test – the lowest team total in their Test history. They lost the match by an innings and 219 runs. In the 2022 tour, Bangladesh also played a Test at this venue, losing by seven wickets.
Bangladesh and the West Indies have faced each other 20 times in Tests. Bangladesh has won four matches, lost 14, and drawn two.
This series sees a relatively inexperienced Bangladesh team. The Tigers will be without Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim. Shakib had announced his retirement from Test cricket after his final match against South Africa at home, but his political involvement with the ousted Awami League government led to public outrage, cutting short his plans. It can be assumed that Shakib’s Test career has come to an end.
Injuries have ruled out captain Shanto and Mushfiqur. Following an excellent performance in the warm-up match, Hasan Murad is likely to debut. In first-class cricket, he has taken 139 wickets in 31 matches, with 12 five-wicket hauls in an innings. Although Murad represented Bangladesh in two T20Is during the Asian Games last year, he went wicketless.
Shahadat Hossain Dipu has been included in place of Shanto. After making his debut against New Zealand in Sylhet last November, Shahadat has scored 118 runs in eight innings of four Tests. His last Test appearance was against Sri Lanka in Chattogram this April.
In Shanto’s absence, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz will lead the team.
The West Indies, meanwhile, will also be missing experienced player and former captain Jason Holder due to shoulder injury rehabilitation. The team, led by Kraigg Brathwaite, features a mix of youth and experience.
The second Test of the series will start on November 30 in Jamaica. After the Tests, the two teams will play a three-match ODI and T20I series.
Bangladesh Squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Liton Kumar Das (wicketkeeper), Zakir Ali, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, and Hasan Murad.
West Indies Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Da Silva (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamarh Joseph, McKenny Clarke, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, and Jomel Warrican.
