Boosted up by the last ODI victory of the three-match series, Tigers set to face England in their first T20 off three match series to begin at the Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram today at 3pm.
Apart from the 2022 ICC Men’s World Cup T20, Bangladesh and England have never featured in the shortest version of the game.
In their first meeting in the T20 format Bangladesh were all out for a paltry 124 runs and England chased the target in 14.1 over losing only two wickets.
However, the defending champions of the both ODI and T20 format England team are obviously eyeing to bag the T20 series with 3-0 win to Whitewash when they missed after suffering defeat in the last match in the ODI series despite winning the first two matches.
However, for Tigers it will be a big opportunity to overcome the visitors, though it is more than challenging job for the Tigers against the world champions.
Both the Tigers and England can expect to make a strong case. Tigers, although have batting line-ups that are fragile under pressure, they boast strong spin attacks led by Shakib Al Hassan and no better place for them to put on a show than the home ground.
The batting line up looked vulnerable in the first and second ODI, as England had both a clear domination and put the matches beyond Bangladesh reach. England found controlled in a similar position in the first and second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Among the top order batters, Litton Das, the most dependable batsman, flopped in the ODI series when the dashing opener scored seven runs in the first match and was out for successive duck in the second and third ODI.
But despite a staggering subside performance in their first and second ODI, Tigers could manage to maintain some of their position of strength through the outstanding bowling of Shakib Al Hassan in the third and last ODI and won the match, which could be a big inspiration for T20 series.
Bangladesh made-to-order spinning pitches backfired against England batters when bowlers were struggling in the ODI against the unwavering and skill of Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and all-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran.
In the batting line, only Shakib Al Hassan and Nazmul Hossain Shanto were the only batters to have made a half-century in the one-day series when at various stages none could bail Tigers out in in the first two ODIs.
The Port City ground has been usually spinner-friendly Shakib Al Hassan, Nasum, Ahmed and Mehidy Miraz have been among the beneficiaries.
On the other hands, England have two specialist spinners in their XI Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid and hopeful the match will go for a hard fought encounter.
Tigers won’t be too unhappy with that the tamer surface will be more like home for them and give them an opportunity to end with positive note. There will actually be home advantage for Bangladesh to win the match. For the hosts, there won’t be better option to put the visitors under pressure making a winning start, especially as they seek to start the T-20 series on a high.
Bangladesh Cricket team - Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shamim Hossain, Rony Talukdar, Towhid Hridoy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Tanvir Islam