Dhaka, 29 Nov - Bangladesh are determined to snap the defeat curse
in the longer version format when they take on West Indies in the second and
final Test tomorrow (Saturday) at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica.
The match starts at 9 PM (Bangladesh Time).
The Bangladesh team, adorably called as Tigers, looked clawless since their
historic series victory on Pakistan soil just a few months ago. After that
monumental feat, they have been in perpetual defeat streak that saw them
losing to two-match Test series against India and South Africa before tasting
a 201-run defeat to West Indies in the first Test.
In all five Tests, they came up with meek surrender, what raised a question
whether the historic feat against Pakistan was fluke.
The Bangladesh's problem lied in their batting, which failed to come up with
terms in each and every occasion. The bowlers have been performing up to the
mark on most of the occasion, only to see their hard-work being ruined by the
batters' irresponsible batting.
In the first Test against West Indies also, the bowlers did their job
perfectly with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed registering his career-best 6-64. But
the batters were as usual vulnerable.
Bangladesh stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz though tried to defend the
batters.
"I think we made a few mistakes but that can happen. We hope to come back
strongly in the next match," Miraz who led the side after regular skipper
Najmul Hossain Shanto was ruled out of the Test series following a groin
injury said after the disgraceful defeat in the first match.
Having said that, he informed that they knew what mistakes they had done. He
also stressed on fixing those errors to make a strong comeback in the second
and final Test as Bangladesh are looking for avoiding a series sweep.
"We know what mistakes we made and we need to come back stronger. We will
have a chat among ourselves. Hopefully we'll put our best in the coming
Test," he said.
Bangladesh's pace attack of late, led by Taskin, have been doing excellent
job, be it on home soil or foreign den. Miraz has no reservation to shower
praise on the pace attack.
"I think we bowled really well. Taskin got six wickets. We have a got a good
pace attack-- Taskin, Hasan and Shoriful all bowled well. We have spinner
Taijul too who bowled really well in the first innings. I am really happy
with their performance."
Bangladesh haven't won any Test on Caribbean Island since their landmark 2-0
win in 2009. Though the series victory came against a second-choice West
Indian side as the first choice players refused to play the series following
a dispute with the board.
Overall, the two teams played 21 Tests with West Indies winning 15. The two
Tests were drawn while Bangladesh won four Tests.
Bangladesh are playing this series without most of their senior players.
Apart from captain Shanto, senior most player Mushfiqur Rahim also missed the
series due to injury.
The visitors are likely to bring a change in the second Test as the team
management may consider to give a rest to a fast bowler, mostly likely to
Shoriful Islam to pave way for Nahid Rana.
The two Tests will be followed by three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals.
Bangladesh Squad: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul
Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Litton Das (WK), Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan
Miraz (Captain), 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, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Kemar
Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican.