Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss in the second and final Test against vsiting West Indies and decided to bat first at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.
Bangladesh made two changes into the playing XI. Shadman Islam came in as a replacement of Imrul Kayes who ruled out due to the injury after playing the first Test in Chattogram. And Muustafizur Rahman is overlooked to pave a way for Liton Das who missed the first Test of the series. It means, Bangladesh set to play this match without a frontline seamer, and this is the first-ever instance when Bangladesh came into a Test match without a fast-bowler. Liton got a sudden call due to the injury of Mushfiqur Rahim who won't be able to keep the wicket.
The debutant Shadman Islam has been playing well in the domestic circuit for a few years now. He participated in 42 First-class matches and scored 3023 runs at an average of 46.50. He has seven centuries and 16 half-centuries to his name as well. Shadman Islam is the eighth player in 2018 to take the Test cap for Bangladesh, and overall he is 94th Test player of the Tigers, according to a UNB report.
Bangladesh have started off the series on a positive note in Chattogram as they outclassed the visitors by 64 runs. The West Indies capitulated to the Tigers after their batsmen tumbled against the Bangladeshi spinners.
The newbie Nayeem Hasan and Taijul Islam played the pivotal rule in Chattogram to lead Bangladesh to a comprehensive win. While Nayeem registered a five-for as the youngest bowler in the history, Taijul recorded his fourth five-for in three Tests.
Prior to the second and final Test in Dhaka, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan expressed his confidence to win the series. The Tiger captain says: "We will definitely go to the middle to win the game. We have a chance (to win the match), but we have to work hard."
Kraigg Brathwaite, the stand-in captain of Windis, said that they are eager to level the series by a win in Dhaka. They have outplayed the Tigers in the previous meeting last July.
West Indies have made one change into their playing XI as the fast bowler Shannon Gabriel suspended in the Dhaka Test due to his demerit points reached to five. Shermon Lewis, the right-arm fast bowler, came in as a replacement of Shannon. It will be his second Test so far.
Bangladesh XI: Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, and Nayeem Hasan
West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Kieran Powell, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Shimron Hetmyer, Jomel Warrican, Kemar Roach, and Shermon Lewis
