While England’s tour of the West Indies is still ongoing, Bangladesh has already arrived in the Caribbean for a month-long bilateral series, starting with a two-day warm-up match against the Cricket West Indies XI at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. The series includes two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, beginning with the first Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on November 22. The second Test will be held at Jamaica’s Sabina Park starting November 30.

Bangladesh’s preparation for the tour has been affected by injuries to key players. Both skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim will miss the series due to injuries sustained during the recent ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE. This opens up opportunities for newcomers Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Mahidul Islam Ankon, who were late inclusions in the squad.

Initially planned as a four-day match, the warm-up game was shortened to two days due to Bangladesh’s commitments in the Afghanistan series. The match, starting at 3:00 AM Bangladesh time, provides a crucial opportunity for the visitors to adjust to the Caribbean conditions before taking on the West Indies in the Test series. Bangladesh has already had two training sessions at the West Indies Cricket Board Academy in Antigua.

Notably, this match marks the return of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam to red-ball cricket after missing the previous Test series against South Africa. Both pacers will aim to regain rhythm by bowling a few overs in the warm-up game.

Shanto’s groin injury and Mushfiqur Rahim’s finger injury have forced Bangladesh to rethink their lineup. Dipu and Ankon were added to the squad as late replacements but faced visa delays, joining the team a day after the rest. Their positions in the batting order during the warm-up match will be closely monitored as Bangladesh looks to finalize its combination.

Shanto’s absence leaves a vacancy at number three, while Mushfiqur’s injury disrupts the middle order. These changes will test the team’s depth as they prepare for a challenging series.

Bangladesh last toured the West Indies in 2022 and began that series with a warm-up match at the same venue. The visitors will look to build on their past experiences, despite a revamped lineup and limited preparation time.

The series promises intense competition, with Bangladesh aiming to start strong in the Test matches before shifting focus to the limited-overs formats.