Bangladesh v UAE Preview: Bangladesh looking to turn the tide

Bangladesh will take on the UAE in the 43rd fixture of the Asia Cup T20 2016 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. While many dispute that the shortest version of the game is leading toward the eventual death of the sport, it has brought the associate nations and the full members onto a level playing field. The loss to the Indians in the premier fixture saw the Bangladeshis lose their third T20I on the trot. I contrast to their opponents, the UAE have lost just the one match in their last four fixtures.

Should the numbers be heeded, the Emiratis are odds-on favourites to claim a win over the hosts. However, such is the nature of T20 cricket that anything can happen.

Team News

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi skipper Mashrafe Mortaza knows all too well that taking the opponent lightly would mean the gravest of consequences. The loss to India well and truly brought the hosts crashing back to earth. Returning from a shoulder injury, Mustafizur Rahman was a disappointment. Al-Amin Hossain and Sabbir Rahman were the shining lights. The spotlight however, will be on young Taskin Ahmed. The 20-year-old pacer has responded exceptionally in Mashrafe Mortaza’s effort to build a fearsome bowling unit.

Despite the shortcomings, the Bangladeshis appear to be a formidable unit on paper and are expected to go into the match with the same XI that lost to the Indians.

UAE

In spite of a loss against the Sri Lankans, Ajmal Javed and his band of merry men are on a high. They beat Ireland for the first time in almost a decade and shocked the famed Afghan team to reach the main draw of the Asia Cup. Even more impressive was the fixture against Sri Lanka. Disciplined bowling from Mohammad Naveed and Ajmal Javed ensured that the UAE gave the Lankans a run for their money.

All eyes will be on Mohammad Usman. The latter, who began his career as a professional cricketer in 2015 has been one of the best batsmen in the UAE side. he finished the qualifier as the leading run-getter.

Playing XI (Probable)

Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

UAE: Muhammad Kaleem, Rohan Mustafa, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Usman, Amjad Javed (capt), Saqlain Haider, Swapnil Patel (wk), Qadeer Ahmed/ Farhan Ahmed, Ahmed Raza, Mohammad Naveed

Pitch Conditions

The pitch is expected to even out a fair bit given the fact that two matches have been played on the same wicket. A bit of grass is expected to be left by the groundsmen in order to hold the wicket together.

Stats that matter

• Mohammad Naveed is one of only six bowlers in the world to have a current economy rate below six. Naveed’s rate card reads 5.92.
• The last and the only time these two sides met was at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, 2008. Mohammad Ashraful’s masterful century saw the Bangladeshis win by 96 runs.