Online Desk: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field in their first of the three-match ODI series against England at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
After recording a famous 2-1 victory in their last ODI series at home against India last year in December, Bangladesh will hope to cast aside all the recent hullabaloo regarding the purported rift between national team stalwarts Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal and begin the first series of the year on a positive note against world champions England. The three-match ODI series will also be the first assignment for newly-appointed head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and he will want his team to have an impact against England, who are the reigning champions in both ODIs and T20Is.
After missing the previous series against India, ODI skipper Tamim is also set to stage a comeback, but the Tigers will undoubtedly face a stiff challenge in maintaining their dominance at home in their favoured format. Barring a series defeat to England in 2016, Bangladesh have been unbeaten in their past twelve ODI series at home since 2015 and that will surely provide confidence as the hosts aim to clinch a maiden ODI series win against the English.
Playing XI:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal(c), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
England: Jason Roy, Philip Salt, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Jos Buttler(w/c), Will Jacks, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood