Wholesale changes unlikely for third match
Since Bangladesh have already won their three-match ODI series against the West Indies with a game in hand, there was curiosity about whether the team management would tinker with the playing eleven for today's third and final match.
However, ODI captain Tamim Iqbal said that the Tigers would make very few changes for the third match, with an eye on the 10 points that are up for grabs in the ICC ODI Super League, the pathway for qualification to the 2023 World Cup.
The playing eleven was unchanged for the first two ODIs and the hosts dominated proceedings by bundling out the West Indies below 150 runs on either occasion.
However, there are high chances that pacer Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin will appear and that one of the two uncapped players in off-spinning all-rounder Mahedi Hasan and left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam will ODI debut.
The day-night game is scheduled to be start from 11:30am at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, although the port city's atmosphere was not as filled with as much excitement as it usually is before an international game.
The reason for that is probably because spectators are not allowed into the ground and another reason may be the upcoming Chattogram City Corporation elections scheduled to start on January 27.
The third and final ODI will be a great opportunity for Bangladesh to grab another ten points for the ODI Super League but at the same time the team management will also want some players to get into the groove ahead of a tough assignment against New Zealand in March.
Head coach Russell Domingo will definitely want to see opener Liton Das, who missed out with the bat in the first two ODIs despite getting starts, get going in the third game. Young Nazmul Hossain Shanto is also under pressure after failing in both the games at his new number three position.
On the other hand, the West Indies have found it difficult to cope with a relatively inexperienced side and coach Phill Simmons believes it is their batting department which is the biggest area of concern.
Skipper Jason Mohammed and his troops are yet to bat the full fifty overs of an innings this series and will be hoping for a better show on a relatively flat Chattogram pitch.