Bangladesh are set to launch a new T20 era under full-time captain Litton Das as they take on hosts United Arab Emirates in the first of a two-match series at Sharjah, aiming to end their winless drought in the format at the venue.
Bangladesh will face the United Arab Emirates tonight in the opening T20 of a two-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 9 PM Bangladesh time. The series marks a fresh start for the Tigers under the leadership of Litton Das, who will lead the side as a full-time T20 captain for the first time.
Despite an overall poor record in Sharjah — just one win in 11 matches across formats — Bangladesh remain unbeaten against the UAE in T20s, having won all three previous encounters, including a 2-0 series win in 2022. Litton, who previously captained the team on a stand-in basis, now shoulders the responsibility fully, taking over from Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Bangladesh are expected to feature a slightly reshuffled batting order, with Litton set to bat at No. 3. Tanzid Tamim is likely to open the innings alongside either Shanto or Soumya Sarkar. The middle order may include the likes of Towhid Hridoy, Zakir Ali, and possibly Shanto again if he misses out on an opening role. Lower down the order, Shamim Hossain, new vice-captain Sheikh Mahedi, and Rishad Hossain will look to provide finishing firepower.
The visitors will lean on their pace attack led by Mustafizur Rahman, with Shariful Islam and Tanzim Sakib likely to feature prominently. Bangladesh could also rotate their pace options, with Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud available in the squad. Spin duties will be shared between Sheikh Mahedi and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, whose performance could be pivotal on a surface known to favor batters.
For the UAE, the match ends a 143-day T20I hiatus. Fresh off their qualification for the Asia Cup in ODI format, the hosts are aiming to replicate that momentum in the shortest format. However, concerns remain over the form of captain Muhammad Waseem, who has struggled with the bat in recent outings. Additionally, the squad features five new faces, and experienced pacer Junaid Siddique has been omitted.
Sharjah’s batting-friendly pitch and short boundaries could result in a high-scoring affair, with totals of 170–180 runs being par in recent years. Bangladesh’s familiarity with the venue could serve as a tactical advantage, although UAE’s ODI confidence might boost their performance.
As both teams gear up for the clash, all eyes will be on Litton Das and his leadership debut in a full-time role, as well as Bangladesh’s quest to rewrite their T20 fortunes in Sharjah.
LND/BG
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