West Indies host Bangladesh in the first of three T20 internationals on Saturday and the home side are expected to come out on top as both countries continue to prepare for the World Cup later this year.
The Windies concluded a two-match Test series against the Tigers on Wednesday, winning both games, and they will feel confident of translating that form into the shortest format as they take on perceived weaker opposition in this format.
Overall, these two are among the outsiders to win the T20 jamboree, which starts in Australia in October, with the Windies 12/1 to win Down Under this autumn, compared with the 33/1 on offer for Bangladesh.
So this timely three-match series will offer both the chance to fine-tune their squads with the tournament now just three-and-a-half months away.
| What | West Indies vs Bangladesh - first T20 international |
| Where | Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica |
| When | 18:30 Saturday 2nd July 2022 |
| How to watch | BT Sport |
| Odds | West Indies 4/9, Bangladesh 7/4 |
Dominica hosts first two games
The first two games will be staged in Dominica, the first games there since Hurricane Maria heavily damaged the island in 2017, while the third T20 clash is in Guyana.
To give Bangladesh some hope, West Indies have named a much-changed squad for this first match, with several of the 16 players that took part in their most-recent T20 series against India, which they lost 3-0 in February, left out.
Changes aplenty for hosts
Jason Holder has been rested, Kieron Pollard has now retired from international cricket and Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell and Shai Hope all miss out this time, with Dominic Drakes named among the back-up options.
Nicholas Pooran has been named WI skipper, Rovman Powell, as vice-captain and the likes of Obed McCoy, Shamarh Brooks, Alzarri Joseph and Devon Thomas have all been given the chance to impress.
Injury issues for tourists
For Bangladesh, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz have been drafted into their squad. Miraz is set to feature in his first T20I since December 2018, while Taskin is fully fit following an injury he sustained in South Africa in April.
However, that's about as far as the good news on the fitness front goes for the tourists.
Paceman Shohidul Islam has been forced to pull out with an injury setback, batsman Yasir Ali Chowdhury remains absent with a back injury, while all-rounder Shaif Uddin wasn't considered either as he continues to work on his fitness.
Bangladesh's most recent T20 series ended all square when they drew a two-match series 1-1 with Afghanistan in March.
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Windies eye confidence-boosting series win
On home soil, the Windies will still be considered favourites, but there may well be little to choose between the two teams.
West Indies are currently only one spot above the eighth-placed Bangladesh in the T20 world rankings and, with experimentation in the air from both sides as they look to give some fringe players the chance to stake a claim for a World Cup place, it's difficult to predict how it will play out.
However, further backing up the idea that the West Indies should just about have the upper hand are the head-to-head stats.
The Windies and Bangladesh have faced each other in 13 previous T20 matches, with the West Indies winning seven, whereas Bangladesh have come out victorious on five occasions.
It's likely to be close, though, and we will begin to get a clearer picture if either country, with both delving into their T20 reserves somewhat, are good enough to make a meaningful impact in the much-anticipated World Cup that's nicely moving into view on the horizon.
ODIs follow later in July
The white-ball games start with these three T20Is, with the second one set for Sunday 3rd July and the finale on Thursday 7th July.
After that, three One-Day Internationals between the two countries follow on with those games - which all take place in Guyana - scheduled for 10th July, 13th July and 16th July.
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