Miserable Bangladesh fold for 58
Bangladesh won a vital toss and chose to bat first, as their crucial Group B encounter with West Indies prepared to get underway at Mirpur. With a win and a loss apiece, and with Ireland's stunning victory over England increasing the pressure for quarter-final places, both sides know that whoever emerges on top in this contest will have taken a huge stride towards that coveted top-four finish.
On a typically flat Dhaka wicket, Shakib Al Hasan was happy to have the chance to take first use, given that both of Bangladesh's opening fixtures - against India and Ireland - have been won by the team with runs on the board. Shakib confirmed an unchanged side, with Mohammad Ashraful retaining his place ahead of the offspinning allrounder Mahmudullah, having played a key role in the Ireland victory with two early wickets.
West Indies have also resisted the temptation to tinker, with no changes from the XI who dispatched the Netherlands with such aplomb in Delhi on Monday. Kemar Roach wrapped up that match with a hat-trick to complete figures of 6 for 27, and could once again share the new ball with the lanky left-arm spinner Suliemann Benn.
Bangladesh enter the contest on a tide of popular acclaim, and Shakib's correct call was greeted with a huge roar by another large and enthusiastic crowd. The manner in which they overcame the Irish at the same venue last week has reinforced the belief that in their favoured home conditions, with a quartet of canny spinners to take advantage of their slow, low surfaces, they are quite capable of holding their own.
West Indies, however, have plenty matchwinners of their own, even though one of them - Dwayne Bravo - has left the squad after succumbing to a knee injury in their opening defeat against South Africa. Chris Gayle, whose darting offspinners could be as valuable as his renowned hitting, will be vital with bat and ball, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul has the patience and pedigree to bed in on a slow deck.
Bangladesh 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Junaid Siddique, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mohammad Ashraful, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Shafiul Islam, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Rubel Hossain.
West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Devon Smith, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Devon Thomas (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Sulieman Benn, 10 Nikita Miller, 11 Kemar Roach.
