4 July 2018. Bangladesh team played under the leadership of Shakib Al Hasan lost 43 runs against the Caribbean pace attack! The score in that match at Antigua North Sound was Bangladesh's lowest. The two-match Test series begins at this venue on Friday with Antigua on the back of that nightmare. The match will start at 8 pm Bangladesh time. T-Sports will telecast the match live.
After 18 years, a new Bangladesh is entering the Test field against the West Indies in Antigua today. Because there is no Panchpandav in the team of 11 under the leadership of Mehdi Hasan Miraj. Mashrafe bin Mortazato quit Test playing long ago. Mahmudullah also retired from this format. Tamim Iqbal is away from international cricket in pride. Shakib Al Hasan wanted to retire after playing the Mirpur Test against South Africa. But that opportunity did not happen. It is also not sure whether he will play Tests in the future. Mushfiqur, who was sure, has been ruled out of the series due to injury. After a total of 18 years, the Bangladesh team is going to enter the field without these five cricketers. Bangladesh is entering the field with a young leadership and a young team.
As Bangladesh take to the field on a tough wicket in Antigua, there is concern over recent performances. After two Test losses in India, Bangladesh was also whitewashed against South Africa at home. Batting failure was the main reason for the loss in these four Tests. Bangladesh's batsmen will face a tough test on the pace-dependent wicket of Antigua. The Caribbean have already announced their XI the day before the match. They have kept four pacers in the XI. Alzari Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Sills. Apart from this, Justin Greaves can also bowl medium pace. The team did not include any specialist spinner in the XI. Kavem Haj can spin left-arm if needed. Besides, the captain Craig Brathwaite bowled off-spin as needed by the team. But spinners are not much needed on the Antigua wicket.
Meanwhile, even if Bangladesh does not announce XI, it is conceivable that the number of pacers will be more. Four pacers Shariful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana are in the squad. There is no chance of these four playing the match. Captain Mirajto is also in the offspin. But the bowlers have nothing to worry about. Bangladeshi bowlers are proving themselves well in the country and abroad. Worry about the batters. Mehdi Hasan Miraj's team can succeed in Antigua only if the batsmen fight against the Caribbean pace attack. However, without Mushfiq and regular captain Nazmul Hossain Shantar, the batting department will suffer a lot. Tarun Sadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Zaker Ali Anik, Mahidul Islam Drawing, Shahdat Hossain Dipud have to take responsibility. Besides, the biggest responsibility of experienced Muminul Haque and Liton Das. The team will be looking at their bat.
Bangladesh's experience in the Caribbean is not all bad. Good experience too. This West Indies soil also holds the unique achievement of Bangladesh's first Test series win away from established cricket powers, apart from Zimbabwe (a 2-0 win in a 2-Test series in 2009). There are also bad experiences. In the history of two eras, the shame of being all out for the fewest runs in the West Indies soil in 2018. Bangladesh also played a Test in Antigua in 2022. Caribbean pacers have also troubled Bangladesh. Shakib-Tamim-Mushfiqur could not handle Seba's Caribbean pace cannon. What can you do now?
