Spin or pace?

Will Bangladesh go with a three-man pace attack or add another spinner to the playing 11? That is the pertinent question ahead of the second of three ODIs against West Indies, starting at 7pm Bangladesh Standard Time at the National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada.

Many felt the absence of a specialist slow bowler when Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin staged a rescue act to give the hosts a three-wicket victory in the first game at the same venue. Leaving veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak out of the first ODI seemed to be a poor decision considering the conditions, but selector and team manager Habibul Bashar said over phone yesterday evening that they were yet to settle upon a final 11.

“We have training sessions in the afternoon and after reviewing the conditions the team management will take the final decision about the 11. The match will take place at the same venue but on a different pitch,” informed former national skipper Bashar.

Bashar however said that the team was in good shape despite the defeat and they got back their confidence by playing some decent cricket in the first game.

“The boys are disappointed as they were so close to winning the match but you have to give credit to Pollard and Ramdin for their brilliant effort to snatch the match away from us. The team is confident of putting in a better performance in the second game and we are hopeful,” added Bashar.

Whether a pacer will be dropped or not depends solely on head coach Hathurusingha. And Mominul Haque is also unlikely to replace Shamsur Rahman in the second match, though many think that the former is a much better choice.  

After the match, the Tigers will travel to St Kitts where they will play the third and final ODI on August 25, the only T20I on August 27 and a three-day practice match starting from August 30.