Tigers seek perfect end

Bangladesh will be looking to continue their fine run in their favoured fifty-over format this year when Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and his troop takes on a demoralised West Indies in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

The day-night affair is set to start from 1:00 pm local time.

There is some good news for the Tigers as the experienced Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will return to the ODI side following injuries sustained in September's Asia Cup.

Skipper Mashrafe will surely look to finish the last series of the year on a high after maintaining a winning percentage of 64.71 in ODIs, which is the third-best by any team in 2018.

The team management will be faced with a sweet dilemma in forming the playing eleven after magnificent performances from the top order in recent times.

It was learned that Liton Das was expected to open the innings alongside Tamim while Imrul Kayes, who was the highest run-scorer in the previous three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, would bat at number three.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim is set to bat at number four followed by Shakib and Mahmudullah Riyad.

It was also learned that Soumya Sarkar is expected to bat in the middle order, which means Mohammad Mithun may have to make way.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz will assist Shakib in the spin department while Mashrafe, who already hinted at playing three seamers in the line-up, will likely partner Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain.

West Indies on the other hand will be looking for a comeback after the whitewash in the Test series, especially as the Caribbean outfit have been unable to win an ODI series for four years -- since beating Bangladesh at home in 2014.

While the Mirpur pitch is expected to provide some assistance for seamers, it is also expected that it will offer runs.