Mushfiq expects competitive series against West Indies

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim on Monday expressed the hope that a competitive series against West Indies is possible if every department of the team clicks as per their ability, reports UNB.

"If our batsmen and bowlers play responsibly, it will be an exciting and competitive series against West Indies," he said at a pre T/20 match press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh will begin their home series campaign with a T20 match against West Indies today (Tuesday) at the SBNCS under the flood light.

He said they gained experience from the practice matches against West Indies and it would help do well in the series.

Asked if he would feel pressure as a new captain in his debutant international match, Mushfiq said international match is always a pressure one for everybody "not only for captain".

Asked about their poor performance in the practice matches Rahim said: "Team's performance can't be always judged with the practice match… there would a different venue and different match. We hope we will successful in the series."

The diminutive wicket keeper hoped they will have a fair chance of doing well against West Indies in the series if pacers Rubel Hossain, Sahadat Hossain and spinner Shakib Al Hasasn contribute as per their ability.

"The wicket of Mirpur is known as spin favoutring and we hope spinners will be able to play a major role in the series and we must have to support them in doing a good batting," he added.

Head coach Stuart Law also hoped of his team's competitive performance in the series.

He said they have to play more T20 international matches against big teams to gain experience as the T20 world Cup is not far ahead.

West Indies skipper Darren Sammy said they want to maintain all-win spree in the series against Bangladesh.

Explaining the reason he said they underwent conditioning camp in Barbados and Dubai to accustom hot weather. They also won a match against England before arrival in Bangladesh.

Replying to a question he said: "Each series is important for us as we want to reach among the top five ICC ranking teams by 2015."

Sammy, however, admitted that Bangladesh is a tough opponent in home soil… in the last series Bangladeshi spinners had proved effectiveness against their opponents and the local weather and wicket is very spin favoring.

Recalling the last encounter against Bangladesh Sammy said their pacer brought success for them. They already played two practice matches here to accustom with local weather and hopefully emerge as successful in the series.

The Caribbean skipper said Bangladesh have some experienced cricketers, especially Shakib Al Hasan, who represent IPL and Champion League. Bangladesh must try to properly utilise the experience of Shakib in the series.

Bangladesh will play their 1st ODI of the three-match ODI series on October 13 at the same venue.

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