Bangladesh is in do or die situation for winning the Dhaka test and squaring the series. Having lost the Chattogram test they are on the verge of humiliating and disgraceful series white wash at the hands of under strength West Indies.

BCB would have no excuse for defending as in 2018 full strength West Indies was white washed by Bangladesh at home. With Shakib not playing and some niggles of some other players it will be stiff challenge for Bangladesh turning around and winning.  On the other hand, turning the table on favorite Bangladesh buoyant West Indies would be a different team all together beaming with confidence.  There is no use stating Bangladesh was in driver's seat till stumps of day four. We all know Bangladesh players do not have patience, skills and physical fitness for enduring rigors of longer version cricket over 5 days. 

We are sure neither BCB top management nor coaching staff has answers as to why inform experienced player Mahmudullah was overlooked for test. He like Tamim, Shakib and Mushfique should walk into any format Bangladesh plays based on his past proven performance and recent sparkling form. BCB has no answer to defend why Bangladesh could not arrange any preparation at all for the test match. White ball shorter version cricket cannot be at all ideal for preparing and making test squad. Now with Chattogram test lost and Shakib not available Bangladesh has left with very little options to regroup. 

Authorities Cannot Be Blamed.
We think Minhazul Abedin and Habibul Bashar did it right making the test squad excepting excluding Mahmudullah. Five inform pacers in the squad was right decision.  But curators could not prepare a wicket going with the strategy of BCB pickers. Chittagong wicket neither helped pacers nor the spinners to justify going with 4 spinners and lone pacer.  We are not sure Nanno and Sumon had much say in the process of playing XI. Perhaps Shakib was not 100% match fit. Him limping out of the match and the series is a big blow for which team management cannot avoid blame. We know Mustafiz is always reluctant for longer version cricket. His frail structure is not suitable for 20-30 overs bowling in one innings. Moreover, he got rattled getting warnings for running into the danger zone. Bangladesh was effectively reduced to three bowlers. Bangladesh fielded poorly and also could not use DRS effectively. Choosing Nazmul Hossain Shanto ahead of Mithun and Rabbi was another flawed decision. Mominul is a proven player at number three and Mushfique is the most ideal batsman at four. Still for accommodating Nazmul, Mominul and Mishfique were pushed behind. Nazmul failed in the both innings and dropped few catches.  His inclusion in the test squad after his three failures in ODI matches was rank stupidity. 

It was sad observing that West Indies spinners bowled better than Bangladesh spinners on an unresponsive wickets spinners used right loops drawing Bangladesh batsmen forward. On the other hand, Bangladesh spinners bowled too short or too full letting West Indies batsmen milking them and playing strokes in the back foot. Why Bangladesh could not have Mohammad Rafique or any other top spinners of the past as spinning coach in absence of Dan Vittori? Logically question arises what Bangladesh achieved over the years engaging expensive foreign coaches? 

Options Now. 
Bangladesh cannot atone its mistake to bring back Mahmudullah for Bio Bubble protocol. BCB has announced inclusion of Soumya Sarkar as replacement of Shakib. He should have been in the squad originally. He was in ODI team but despite of being top order batsman did not get much opportunity to bat. Bangladesh will need making three changes at least. Let us assume that Soumya would replace Shakib and bat at 7 pushing Liton up in the order at three creating situation for right left combination. Bangladesh needs another batsman from among Mithun and Rabbi replacing Shanto. Depending on the nature of the wicket Bangladesh should definitely appear with two pacers and two spinners possibly Meraj and Taijul. We would suggest playing Rahi and Hasan Mahmood or Ebadat. Mustafiz looked shaken after getting warning. He must not be burnt out as he will be main weapon for Bangladesh in New Zealand. 

In any case Tamim, Mominul and Mushfique have to bat out of their skin staying longer at the wicket and converting good starts. Liton, Soumya, Mithun and Meraj can also make useful contributions. But experienced West Indies bowlers have now good view of Bangladesh bowling. Bangladesh batted poorly in the second innings at Chattogram except Mominul and Liton.  

At Chattogram Mominul did not get much support from senior pros. Shakib was out of the match early. Tamim did not field most of the time in the second Innings and Mushfique most of the time was fielding in the deep. Would suggest letting Mushfique keeping wickets at Dhaka for better guiding bowlers and assisting Mominul in better use of DRS. 

My suggested Playing XI: Tamim Iqbal, Shadman Islam, Liton K Das, Mominul Haq, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mehedy Meraj, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed Rahi, Ebadat / Hasan Mahmood 

Bottom Line.
Bangladesh has to win at any cost and if possible, within three or 3.5 days. If the test lingers Bangladesh would definitely loose. Playing two tests to full distance within a short span would seriously challenge fitness of all players. As life time well-wisher of Bangladesh Cricket will like to see Bangladesh. But losing the series would act as vaccine for BCB as misdeeds of BCB would scrutiny in that situation may come under 

BDST: 1210 HRS, FEB 10, 2021
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