Tigers ready to step out of comfort zone

After an ODI series in Mirpur, where Bangladesh fully capitalised on home advantage against the West Indies, the Tigers are set to embark on a new challenge against the same opponents today -- this time in the T20 format in Chattogram, a venue that offers the closest thing to a neutral setting for both sides.

With around four months left before the next ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have only six T20Is scheduled -- three each against the West Indies and Ireland -- and skipper Litton Das wants those matches to be as challenging as possible.

"Honestly speaking, I want our players to be challenged in the two series," Litton said about the West Indies series and next month's home series against Ireland at the pre-match press conference on Sunday.

"I want the bowlers to be under pressure when bowling; it would help us in the upcoming World Cup," he added.

Bangladesh enter this series having won their last four T20I series -- against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Afghanistan.

A series win over the Windies would extend their streak to five consecutive series victories. However, the management's decision to abandon their usual approach of maximising home advantage to ensure 'winning momentum' ahead of the World Cup deserves credit.

It marks a significant change in mindset following the ODI series, which Bangladesh won 2-1, but faced heavy criticism for doing so on the slow, spinning Mirpur surface perfectly tailored to their strengths.

Still, the visitors fought well in the ODI leg, levelling the series 1-1 with a Super Over win in the second match before being blown away by 179 runs in the decider.

Both teams have now travelled south to Chattogram for a three-match T20I series -- a city where, surprisingly, the West Indies have never played a T20I before.

The Caribbean side have played only three T20I series in Bangladesh, the last one in 2018, which they won 2-1. However, they have never featured at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, the venue for this series.

The ground is not entirely unfamiliar to them, though, as the West Indies have played three Tests and two ODIs there, while several of their players have also featured in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) games at the venue.

Chattogram currently offers arguably the best batting surface in the country, edging out the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, which produced low scores during the latter stages of the recently concluded National Cricket League T20.

Even recent statistics support that claim. Since 2018, in all competitive T20 matches -- including both international and domestic fixtures -- the average run rate in Chattogram stands at 8.41 per over, higher than Sylhet's 8.02.

Facing a West Indies side ranked three spots above ninth-placed Bangladesh in T20Is could truly test the hosts if the wicket plays true, as it usually does in Chattogram.

With skipper Litton back in the fold following an injury and Bangladesh's recent form in the format, the hosts begin the series as favourites -- but they will need to be at their best against the former T20 World Champions.