Bangladesh an expected cruised to 2-0 lead in the four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe winning the first two matches comfortably. For further experimentation, injury and ancillary reasons Tigers may appear in a new look today.
There may be at least 4 changes. Whether or not it alters the balance of the team too much to the extent of losing a match need to be seen. But given the gulf of difference in quality of the teams we are not expecting any drama.
The players replacing few already tested players are no less in quality and utility. We find no reason why Bangladesh must not win today and secure the series.
Mustafiz and al Amin have rightly been given rest. Mushfiqur Rahim is nursing injury; Tamim may be given parental leave. This opens opportunity for expected debut of budding youngster Abu Haider Rony. His performance will be under the radar. It will be really fascinating watching this kid pairing with speedster Taskin hunting in pairs.
The return of Arafat Sunny will strengthen spin attack. With Champion Mashrafe leading the pack, we find no depletion in bowling strength. But absence of Mushfique and Tamim has to be addressed with reshuffling the batting order.
Imrul Kayes batting with Soumya may act as a calming impact on tweeting blaster. Shakib may be better suited at number three dropping Sabbir at number five. Mahmudullah should play the pivotal role at number four. We are not sure another budding genius Mossadek will be blooded today.
The match today is crucial in the sense of wrapping up the series. The last match of the series then will become academic facilitating more experiment. Nasir Hossain should also be given a match before the Asia Cup also. Even Mohammad Shahid and Saqlain Sajeeb should also get a game.
If this series ends in positive note, Bangladesh like Australia will get a group of quality bowlers for rotating in T20 and ODI. On low slow less bouncy wickets emergence of so many quick is very encouraging. But before the Asia Cup, the two matches including the match today is the last opportunity for working out the winning combination.
Nurul Hasan appeared to us a very high quality Wicket Keeper .He did not yet get much opportunity to show his quality in batting. This relieves the batting backbone Mushfiqur Rahim.
We hope his injury is not major and he recovers soon. His batting at middle order gives core competence. He takes little time to get settled through rotating strikes. Couple of other players must also do that. Taking five to six singles in each over also makes significant contributions.
Most of Bangladesh batsmen however play too many strokes and even risk in manufacturing a few. This often brings downfall. Players often get out playing the same strokes in the same player.
But from two matches even against soft opposition Zimbabwe it appeared the act of batting is getting together. But think tank must work out right batting order for T20 format.
Shakib for example must play in the top order. He is the key player having wealth of experience in this format all over the cricket world. He played his role as the finisher in the first two matches possibly in the absence of master finisher Nasir Hossain.
We would like to see Nasir back in action in the last match in his known spot and Shakib playing at number three or four.
My team for today would be
Soumya Sarkar , Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek, Nurul Hasan, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Arafat Sunny, Abu Haider Rony and Taskin Ahmed.
Playing to their potential Tigers should win and win easy. A win today will wrap up the series and open opportunity for another series white wash.
BDST: 0946 HRS, JAN 20, 2016
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