Shawdesh desk:

Bangladesh have reached USA with six players in their squad set to play in their first-ever T20 World Cup, and in this event, each of them are likely to play a key role.

The six players playing in their first T20 World Cup are Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Tanvir Islam.

Among them, Towhid is set to be one of the most important players for the Tigers, as he is currently the most in-form batter in the team.

He had a brilliant 2024 Bangladesh Premier League campaign, scoring 462 runs with a strike rate of almost 150, and this year, he has 180 runs—the most for Bangladesh—with a strike rate of 142.85.

Towhid had shown similar form before the 2023 ICC World Cup in India but eventually failed to fare well in the showcase event, which was one of the many reasons Bangladesh ended the tournament with just two wins.

Before leaving the country, in a video published by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Towhid said that he wanted to win the trophy, and if he really wants to do that, he will have to play a key role.

Another World Cup debutant, Jaker – will also have a crucial role in the team, as he is likely to play at number six or seven, meaning he will be responsible for finishing the Tigers’ innings on a high.

Bangladesh have struggled to find a consistent finisher since they began playing the format, and Jaker demonstrated his ability in both the BPL and the series against Sri Lanka, but he will undoubtedly need to up the ante on the global stage if he is to have an impact on their progress in the tournament.

Rishad is the X-factor in the Bangladesh squad, having finally ended the team’s long wait for a leggie. In addition, he can handle spin and hit sixes, making him an outstanding T20 player. He already has 11 wickets, and Bangladesh will need him to add a few more during the World Cup.

Tanzid was likely to be Bangladesh’s backup option for opening, but the off-form of Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar’s recent return from injury might open up the window for him to open for the Tigers early on in the tournament.

The left-handed batter did not have a good time in the 2023 World Cup with only one fifty but two fifties in the recently concluded Zimbabwe series, which might give him the confidence to do better this time around.

Sakib was in the centre of discussion when the team was announced as he trumped Mohammad Saifuddin, courtesy of his extra pace as per the head coach, captain, and selectors.

With Taskin Ahmed being a doubt for the tournament as of now, Sakib might as well get his chance at the global event, and thus have a key role to play.

Left-arm spinner Tanvir was picked as the backup spin option for the Tigers, but once in the West Indies, he might have an important role to play as the Netherlands are a right-hander dominated side, and pitches in the Caribbean are likely to offer some help to the slower bowlers.