Last chance for a turnaround

After their humbling defeat in the ODI tri-series final followed by a 1-0 loss in the two-match Test series, Bangladesh will look to change their fortunes in the shortest format of the game against Sri Lanka when the first of the two-match T20I series starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

And when the game commences at 5:00pm (BST), the home side will be all set to present at least three debutants in a format which is the weakest link for the Tigers. They are ranked 10th behind Afghanistan in this format and have won only twice against the Lankans in their previous seven meetings.

Young all-rounder Afif Hossain, who hit four fifties in the recently-concluded Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand and also impressed in the Bangladesh Premier League last year, will be a key introduction to the injury-hit senior team that are sorely missing the services of champion all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who sustained a finger injury while fielding in the tri-series final and was ruled out of the Test series.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board initially picked Shakib to lead the T20 side, but eventually withdrew him following advice from doctors who suggested that the injury would take another two weeks to heal.

That episode only spoke about the tension and uncertainty in a team that look like they are lacking confidence. The home comforts that the Tigers built on over the last three years has been replaced with discomfort and the players -- under a make-shift arrangement after the sudden departure of coach Chandika Hathurusingha -- seem to be lacking the mental discipline that is required in desperate times.

However, the T20I fixture is set to provide a different complexion for a new-look home team.

Apart from Afif, pace bowler Abu Jayed Chowdhury and pace bowing all-rounder Ariful Haque are also in line to make their national team debuts. Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam might be a fourth debutant provided that the team management decide against young pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin.

Opener Tamim Iqbal and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also complained of niggles yesterday, forcing the selectors to call wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Mithun as a back-up.

It will certainly be a challenging task for the team management to strike the right combination. But more than that they need that self-belief and mental discipline if the Tigers are to rediscover that lost home comfort.