Know your opponents: Bangladesh

Nepal and Bangladesh will face each other for the second time in Twenty-Twenty Internationals in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Kingstown on June 16. The teams previously met in the 2014 T20 World Cup, held in Bangladesh.

Disrespect?

In the 2014 World Cup encounter, Bangladesh defeated Nepal by eight wickets at home. Nepal set a modest target of 126 runs in 20 overs, which Bangladesh chased down in 15.3 overs.

Bangladesh needed just one run to win in the second ball of the 16th over after Shakib Al Hasan straight drove the first ball for a boundary. But the former Tigers skipper denied a single on the second ball and smashed a six over the long-on on the third.

Many Nepali supporters had gone on to term Shakib’s act as a disrespect to the opponents. This was Nepal’s first encounter against a full-member team in international cricket.

Eye opening defeats in build-up

In the build up to the Twenty20 World Cup, Bangladesh lost a series against the USA (2-1). They lost the first two games by 5 wickets and 6 runs, respectively, but won the third match, a dead rubber, by 10 wickets.

The USA rested key players, including captain Monak Patel, Steven Taylor, and player of the match winners from the previous two matches, Harmeet Singh and Ali Khan, for the final T20I.

An Experienced Side

Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the Bangladesh team in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The squad includes experienced players like Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan, who were part of the team when Bangladesh defeated Nepal in the 2014 World Cup.

Shakib returned to the shorter format after a year-long gap, impressing with a four-wicket haul in the fourth game of a home series against Zimbabwe.

Strong Pace Attack

The Bangladesh pace bowling attack will be led by Mustafizur Rahman, who recorded the best bowling figures for Bangladesh in T20 internationals (6-10) in the last T20 against the USA.

He will be supported by Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and young Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Difficult World Cup

After an eye-opening defeats against the USA, Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib said all matches would be difficult for all teams participating in the World Cup.

He said that there are no easy games, and the World Cup is all about pressure and holding your nerve. Bangladesh is placed alongside two Associate nations, Nepal and the Netherlands.

Bangladesh will begin their T20 World Cup campaign in Dallas, facing Sri Lanka on June 8. Before that, they will play two warm-up matches against the USA and India on May 28 and June 1, respectively.

Bangladesh Squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Traveling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud.