Walsh hopeful for young Windies in Bangladesh

Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh says he expects the young regional side to put in a good showing against Bangladesh when the two sides meet in three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Test matches starting next week.

Walsh, who played 132 Tests and 205 ODI matches for the West Indies, taking 519 and 227 wickets, respectively, says he expects the Jason Mohammed-led ODI and Kraigg Brathwaite-led Test teams to show grit and determination despite having an under-strength squad and poor record in Bangladesh.

The last time the West Indies won a Test series in Bangladesh was when Darren Sammy and his men secured a 2-0 series win in the 2012-s13 season. The hosts have won the last two bilateral series against the West Indies.

Bangladesh have won eight of their last 10 bilateral ODI series at home.

The last ODI win for the West Indies in Bangladesh was in Dhaka in 2018 after a match-winning unbeaten 146 from Shai Hope.

For Walsh, the key to victory will be consistency and belief from the young charges.

“It’s going to be challenging, but as I said to them, I believe we can do very well on this tour,” Walsh told STAR Sports. “We have some youngsters who have been given the opportunity and hopefully they can grab it with both hands.”

Only four players in this Test squad – Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, Raymon Reifer, and Jomel Warrican – toured Bangladesh the last time the West Indies visited.

Jamaican Rovman Powell is the lone player in the ODI squad who toured with the regional side in 2018-19, where the West Indies went down 2-0 in the Tests and 2-1 in the ODIs.

“Bangladesh in Bangladesh will never be easy, as the records have shown, but if we show that discipline and focus, I think we can come out of this series and do extremely well.” Walsh said.

The West Indies will start their tour of Bangladesh with a limited-overs warm-up game at the BKSP cricket ground in Dhaka on Monday, before the first official ODI against the hosts, also in Dhaka, two days later.