Changes likely in Bangladesh XI for Asia Cup final

Bangladesh are aiming to win their first Asia Cup crown in the final on Sunday, but are faced with the difficult task of halting the Indian juggernaut – a six-match winning streak. If India win, they will equal their best ever winning streak in T20Is, of 7 matches.

The visitors are the favourites, but the scales are not tipped as heavily as the two teams' ranks would suggest - No.1 and No. 10. On their day, with all circumstances conspiring, The Tigers can easily rout the Indians, as can be recollected from the 2-1 bilateral ODI series win they enjoyed last year.

It is possible that Bangladesh will change the playing XI from the match against Pakistan, for strategic reasons. Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan is being tipped to replace specialist batsman Mohammad Mithun, and Arafat Sunny may be replaced by Abu Haider Rony.

Mithun was not called upon to bat in the Pakistan match, and with the return of regular opener Tamim Iqbal, has been shifted down the batting order into minimum relevance. Nurul Hasan is known for his hard-hitting abilities more than the specialist batsman, and can play the Hardik Pandya role for the hosts, at No.7. He can also be asked to keep wickets.

Sunny returned decent figures of 2/35 against Pakistan, but may be dropped for the India game because his left-arm spin may not be as effective in the final. India have as many as four left-hand batsmen – Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja – and so, young Abu Haider may get a chance.

Shakib al Hasan suffered a thigh injury during the training session on Friday, but it is likely that he will shake off the injury to take part in the all-important summit clash. However, Mustafizur Rahman will be badly missed, and it can be hoped that the young prodigy can recover from his side strain enough to play in the upcoming World T20s.

Records and statistics leading up to the final

Mushfiqur Rahim, who might get a chance to be an outfield fielder if Nurul Hasan is given a chance, is chasing a landmark never reached by a Bangladeshi – playing in 50 T20 internationals. He has also played 48 Tests and 158 ODI matches.

Despite being known as one of Bangladesh’s most dependable and technically correct batsmen, Mushfiqur has had an underwhelming Asia Cup, with scores of 16 not out, 4, 4 and 12.

Among Mushfiqur’s teammates, Shakib al Hasan will be playing his 47^th T20I, Mahmadullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal’s 46^th T20I, and Mashrafe Mortaza’s 42^nd T20I – pillars of what has turned out to be Bangladesh’s golden generation.

A lot of the spotlight, however, will be on 26-year-old Al-Amin Hossain, who is leading the wicket-takers’ charts from the group stages, with ten crucial wickets in four matches. India’s Hardik Pandya, with 7 wickets, is the only bowler who stands a chance of overtaking his wickets’ tally.

Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman also leads the run scoring list from the main stages of the Asia Cup from among the two finalists, with 144 runs, 5 runs less than Dinesh Chandimal’s tournament tally.

India’s Rohit Sharma has 137 runs, and will be looking to end the tournament with a bang, both in terms of collective glory and individual records.