In the first T20I of a three-match series at Chattogram, Bangladesh opted to bat after winning the toss against Australia on Wednesday With regular skipper Litton Das out with a calf injury, the hosts were also under the leadership of Towhid Hridoy, who is captaining the national side for the first time.
In Dhaka, this week Litton suffered a Grade 1 strain at the left calf while batting in the third ODI against Australia. The Bangla Team medics claim it is not serious and the wicketkeeper-batter should be fine but have recommended he skips the first T20I to take things slowly. Team officials are optimistic, though, that he could play later in the series if all goes well.
Bangladesh have made some shuffling in batting order with Litton being ruled out. The out-of-form Soumya Sarkar comes back as a much needed boost for the top-order while Parvez Hossain Emon has been handed wicketkeeper duties. The home side also gave a T20I debut to pace-bowler Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, as he became the latest Bangladeshi international cricketer in that discipline.
In contrast, Australia debuted several new players. With a completely changed Australian lineup, Nikhil Chaudhary and Joel Davies made their T20I debuts. Unable to watch the ODI series earlier in their tour, the visitors have changed things up a fair bit, with major players Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green part of the series.
Mitchell Marsh is taking the captaincy for Australia and Josh Inglis is the wicketkeeper again. After a maiden ODI century in Dhaka, Cooper Connolly forced his way back into the T20I side. Selector have also included Pace bowler Spencer Johnson in the playing XI.
Chaudhary’s debut is particularly significant as he becomes the first India-born male cricketer to play international cricket for Australia since Rex Sellers in 1964. His inclusion is another twist in the tale of Australian cricket.
This match also marks Australia’s first outing as a Test side at the Chattogram venue since their 2017 tour of Bangladesh. Both sides will be hoping to begin this T20I series on a winning note as they continue to build into their upcoming international commitments.
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