The Men’s One Day International Series in Bangladesh continues at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur as Bangladesh host West Indies on 23rd October. First ball is scheduled for 13:00 IST (converted from the UK start time of 08:30). Expect a packed house and a spin-friendly surface in this crucial ODI series fixture where both sides are jostling for momentum and ranking points.
Form Guide
Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s white-ball identity at Mirpur is built on discipline: accurate new-ball overs, suffocating middle-overs spin, and batters who value rotation alongside calculated bursts. At home, they’ve repeatedly defended middling totals thanks to smart match-ups and bulletproof field settings. Any slip with the bat is often rescued by their all-rounders, who stretch the line-up and keep them competitive even on tricky pitches.
- Outstanding home record in ODIs, particularly in Mirpur where spin dictates tempo.
- Middle-overs control via finger spin and clever field placements.
- Batting can be streaky, but depth and experience regularly cover early losses.
West Indies
West Indies arrive with a puncher’s chance—dangerous hitters, a brisk pace unit, and an improving group of spinners. Their challenge in Asian conditions is pacing the innings: absorbing dot-ball pressure without panicking and preserving wickets for a late surge. If they can handle Bangladesh’s spin web through the middle, their power at the death keeps them very much in the contest.
- Explosive top order but must avoid slow starts turning into collapses against spin.
- Pace spearhead offers early breakthroughs; left-arm and wrist-spin options growing.
- Fielding intensity and game awareness have improved, yet consistency remains a theme.
Key Players
Bangladesh
- Shakib Al Hasan – The pivot with bat and ball. His ability to control run-rates, attack right-handers, and bat through tricky phases is central at Mirpur.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto – Calm accumulator who turns strike smartly; key to setting a platform and targeting favourable match-ups later.
- Taskin Ahmed – New-ball menace and death-overs option; cross-seamers and hard lengths tend to grip on this surface.
West Indies
- Shai Hope – ODI glue. Reads the tempo, sweeps well, and anchors while allowing stroke-makers to orbit around him.
- Alzarri Joseph – Hits the deck hard with movement off the seam; key to disrupting Bangladesh’s top order.
- Gudakesh Motie – Accurate left-arm spinner who challenges both edges; could be decisive through the middle overs.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Mirpur typically serves up a slow, slightly tacky surface with variable pace, bringing spinners and change-ups into play from the outset. Expect grip for finger spinners, value for cutters, and reward for batters who sweep, nudge, and run hard rather than relying on blazing through the line. With an afternoon start, heat and humidity should be factors, and while late dew sometimes aids chasing, it’s less intrusive for day games. A par total trends towards the 240–270 mark, where wickets in hand for the final 10 overs often proves the difference.
Bangladesh vs West Indies – Prediction
On a Mirpur surface that rewards craft over brute force, Bangladesh’s balanced attack and deeper spin resources give them a narrow edge. If Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed control either side of the innings, the hosts should dictate the rhythm. West Indies’ path is clear: a composed anchor from Shai Hope and one standout burst—either a rapid 70 from a power-hitter or a new-ball burst from Alzarri Joseph. Given conditions and home nous, Bangladesh to prevail in a competitive, low-to-mid scoring contest.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Shakib Al Hasan – Dual-threat points machine: wickets through the middle and reliable 30–50 runs potential.
- Shai Hope – Safe top-order pick; anchors chases and maximises scoring for dots-lean formats.
- Taskin Ahmed – New-ball wicket-taker with death-overs upside; bonus for economy in Mirpur conditions.
