Does not matter how strong is visiting West Indies team. It is part of ICC ODI league between two full member countries. The most important that Bangladesh gained valuable 10 points and made a winning start to its mission 2021.
The wicket was tricky (gripping and turning), the gloomy weather was conducive to swing bowling. The touring team possessed good pacers and exceptionally good left arm spinner. Bangladeshi batsmen appearing in international cricket after a long time got useful batting practice setting their bearing well. They could rediscover their genuine weakness against quality bowling on bowler favoring condition. The other gain was coming back to form great all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Neither Shakib nor Bangladesh lost much from Shakib’s one-year suspension term since October 2018.
Bangladesh did not play any International Cricket during Corona pandemic. Another gain was dream debut of quality pacer Hasan Mahmood. He bowled at pace and stuck to a great channel. When matured will be an ideal foil of Mustafiz. The first match also gave a lesson as to how wickets should be prepared for the test series. Strong West Indies bowling would take strong examination of Bangladesh batting. West Indies is well equipped with quality pacers and spinners.
Bangladesh would play two more ODIs against West Indies. Business as usual should let them win both the matches if they do not make major mistakes. But it must maximize the gain as they next engagement against very strong New Zealand on tour will be extremely Challenging. We did not like experiment with Nazmul Hossain batting at number three pushing Shakib to four, Musfique to five. Nazmul is a good player for longer version and he should be groomed for that. Risking him playing at number three would be another management failure done like BCB did with Mominul.
Soumya Sarkar included in the squad is a genuine top order batsman and he must play in the top order. We did not like the plan of team tigers letting Soumya ready for batting at six.
Bangladesh would require giving Saifuddin some practice against this West Indies team. His bowling and batting at late middle order is very important for Bangladesh. If his fitness is not an issue he must play tomorrow. The only experiment that Bangladesh can make tomorrow may be letting Shoriful making a debut. If that clicks that will be a huge gain.
Bangladesh must not be complacent at all. This West Indies team has good bowling attack. If their batsmen can somehow produce 220-230 runs it would not be easy chasing. Bangladesh must plan right strategy for a clean sweep. That will put Bangladesh in great advantage gaining 30 very useful championship points and close the gap with teams above Bangladesh in ICC Ranking.
BDST: 1510 HRS, JAN 21, 2021
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