Tigers begin T20 tune-up under Liton in Sharjah

Five months following a three-match T20I series clean sweep win in the West Indies, Bangladesh are back in the shortest format as they take on hosts UAE in the first of two T20Is at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

While the series may appear to be just a warm-up ahead of a packed T20 calendar -- featuring bilateral series with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, and major tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup -- it holds real value.

With a five-T20I tour of Pakistan to follow, and the Asia Cup likely to be staged in the UAE, these games offer a timely opportunity to assess conditions and sharpen plans.

This series also marks a new chapter for Bangladesh, as Liton Das begins his tenure as full-time captain in the shortest format. Though he previously led the team on an interim basis, this is his first full-time appointment in the format, lasting through to the next year's T20 World Cup. The team will be hoping Liton can inspire a more aggressive and exciting style of cricket.

Liton has led Bangladesh to some notable results across formats, including a home ODI series win over India and a T20 series victory in the West Indies. But with the captaincy now confirmed, there's also hope that he can regain form with the bat. In 2024, he managed only one fifty in 20 T20I innings, averaging just 16.26.

Beyond Liton, the focus will also be on Bangladesh's ability to get their team balance right -- a necessity ahead of tougher assignments. Tactical calls may be required, such as whether to accommodate former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and if so, how to structure the starting line-up without compromising bowling options.

Spin remains a strength, led by Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain, while the pace arsenal -- featuring Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib -- offers the kind of variety that can trouble even elite batting line-ups.

Meanwhile, the UAE have left out many of their top cricketers for the series against Bangladesh and named a relatively inexperienced side, led by opening batter Muhammad Waseem -- the highest run-getter in T20Is in the world since his debut in 2021.

Regarding the head-to-head results, the Tigers are still unbeaten against the UAE in this format, having won all three games. But in 2022, when both sides last played in Dubai during a two-match series, the hosts gave the Tigers decent challenges in both losing affairs.

As the sun sets over Sharjah, Bangladesh embark on more than just another T20 assignment. This is a moment of recalibration -- a chance to not only tune up combinations and strategies, but to redefine how they approach this format under a fresh leader.

Will Liton's leadership spark a shift in the Tigers' T20 identity? Can the team find fluency, intent and balance before the heavyweight challenges ahead?

The answers may begin to unfold tonight -- under lights, under scrutiny, and under new leadership.