Bangladesh’s lone warm-up game begins today

Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Co will begin their Caribbean mission today with the lone two-day warm-up match against CWI Select XI at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The match will begin at 8:00 PM Bangladesh time and is an opportunity for the Tigers to gear up before their final assignment of the ongoing ICC Test Championship 2023-25 cycle – a two-Test series against the West Indies – begins at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on November 22.

Out of Bangladesh's last three Test series against Pakistan, India and South Africa respectively, the Tigers got to play warm-up fixtures only before the Pakistan series, with the A team, which included many Test team players, taking on Pakistan Shaheens.

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The practice gained from playing two unofficial Tests against the Shaheens seemingly helped the Tigers in the Test series as they went onto pull off a historic 2-0 clean-sweep over the hosts.

However, Bangladesh did not play any warm-up game before the series against India and South Africa and suffered crushing defeats in both series.

The warm-up match will also give them a chance to decide on the team combination in the absence of regular skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is out of the series owing to groin strain. Miraz will lead the team in Shanto's absence.

Meanwhile, West Indies are also taking the warm-up match seriously, picking three Test squad members – skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, all-rounder Justin Greaves and uncapped top-order batter Tevin Imlach – in their 13-member warm-up match squad.

After the warm-up game and the first Test, Bangladesh will travel to Jamaica for the second Test, scheduled to be held between November 30 and December 4 at the Sabina Park.

Bangladesh will also play thee ODIs in St Kitts and Nevis on December 8, 10 and 12 respectively as well as three T20Is in St Vincent and the Grenadines on December 16, 18 and 20 respectively in their month-long tour in the Caribbean. Both teams are yet to announce squads for the two white-ball series.

Bangladesh squad: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Liton Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad and Shahadat Hossain Dipu

CWI Select XI squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Justin Greaves (vice-capt), Ryan Bandoo, Daniel Beckford, Navian Bidaisee, Joshua Dorne, Nathan Edward, Chaim Holder, Tevin Imlach, Jordan Johnson, Jair McAllister, Shaaron Lewis and Kimani Melius.

WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Joshua Da Silva (Vice-Captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican.

ITINERARY 
November 17-18: 2-day Warm-up match, Antigua
November 22-26: First Test, Antigua 
November 30-December 04: Second Test, Jamaica 
December 08: First ODI, St Kitts
December 10: Second ODI, St Kitts
December 12: Third ODI, St Kitts 
December 15: First T20I, St Vincent 
December 17: Second T20I, St Vincent 
December 19: Third T20I, St Vincent