Bangladesh will play without three key cricketers in the first of the five-match T20 series against a depleted Australia side in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.
This is the last major contest for players of both the teams before the T20 World Cup later this year.
Bangladesh met Australia four times – all in the world cup tournament. The Aussies have a 4-0 win record.
However, the hosts have an opportunity to earn the first victory or even win the series in view of the Australian batting line-up weakened by absence of regular captain Aaron Finch. The Aussies lost a T20 series 1-4 to West Indies recently.
Bangladesh will be deprived of the services of Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das.
However, the newfound Shamim Hossain and youngster Afif Hossain, backed up by in-form Soumya Sarkar and experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan may be able to make Bangladesh’s dream come true. Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman also comes back from injuries.
Pacers Mitchel Starc and Josh Hazlewood may be threats for the Bangladeshi batting.
Mahmudullah will lead the home side while Mathew Wade will act as Australian captain in the series.
The first match is scheduled to start at 6pm Bangladesh time today (Tuesday).
