Chattogram, a regular host of international fixtures and the ongoing Bangladesh-West Indies T20I series, has long been one of the country’s main cricketing centres.

Having suffered a 16-run defeat in the first T20I against the West Indies in Chattogram on Monday, Bangladesh will be looking to keep the three-match series alive with a win in today’s second game at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Cricket Stadium.

After an ODI series in Mirpur, where Bangladesh fully capitalised on home advantage against the West Indies, the Tigers are set to embark on a new challenge against the same opponents today -- this time in the T20 format in Chattogram, a venue that offers the closest thing to a neutral setting for both sides.

Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das is expected to return to competitive cricket through the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies, scheduled to begin on October 27 in Chattogram.

A 200-run defeat in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, which sealed a 3-0 whitewash for Afghanistan, should serve as a wake-up call for Bangladesh’s cricket administrators and organisers. 

The series is already gone, but Tuesday’s third match will be important for Bangladesh, who are languishing at 10th in the ICC ODI rankings and have only one ODI series left to get into the top nine to secure direct entry for the next ODI World Cup.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons quipped that while winning close games can boost any team’s confidence, it is certainly not good for the hearts of the fans.

In-form batter Saif Hassan earned a maiden call-up to the ODI side, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 16-member squad for the Tigers' upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan on Friday.  

Just days after beating Afghanistan in a crucial Asia Cup game and pushing them to the brink of elimination in the process, the Jaker Ali-led Bangladesh will be taking on Rashid Khan and Co in a three-match T20I series in Sharjah from today. 

Bangladesh selectors and team management are facing a dilemma over captaincy for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled to start on October 2 in Sharjah.

In Wednesday’s crucial Asia Cup Super Four match against India, Bangladesh missed their captain Litton Das due to injury. The team couldn’t put up much of a fight either, losing the contest by 41 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

One glaring aspect of this Asia Cup -- and of most major cricket events, for that matter -- is the organisers’ relentless push to stage as many India-Pakistan clashes as possible.

Ace left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, also becoming only the fourth bowler in the world to register 150 T20I wickets.

He lifts his back foot and, with a graceful flick of the wrist, sends the ball pitched on leg stump soaring into the stands. That six off Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara by Bangladesh opener Saif Hassan in the Asia Cup Super Four opener in Dubai on Saturday has since gone viral.

Despite a rivalry that has simmered since the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and only intensified over the years, Bangladesh fans may feel less resentment toward Sri Lanka this time.

After the nail-biting win against Afghanistan, the immediate joy quickly gave way to calculations for Bangladesh. A loss would have meant certain elimination; the win kept the Tigers’ hopes alive.

Bangladesh are set to begin their Asia Cup campaign against Associate Nation Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi today. The Litton Das-led side enter the continental tournament on the back of a decent run of form, but even during Tuesday’s practice session, some familiar issues resurfaced.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons said the team would rightly face criticism if they lose to the Netherlands in the three-match T20I series starting tomorrow at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The tournament, set to be played in T20 format, will feature 19 matches, with Dubai hosting 11 and Abu Dhabi eight.

Jaker Ali’s 48-ball 55 proved to be a match-winning knock for Bangladesh in their eight-run victory over Pakistan in the second T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, and the right-handed batter later revealed that he had gone out to bat with a specific message from skipper Litton Das.