Bangladesh seek redemption but wash-out looms

After conceding the ODI series 0-2, Bangladesh will be playing for pride in the third and final ODI of the GrameenPhone series at Bir Shresta Ruhul Amin Stadium in the port city of Chittagong tomorrow (Tuesday).

Bangladesh failed to capitalise on opportunities and struggled with the fitness problems of the key players throughout the series. Only 7 days rest after a gruelling three-month long Caribbean tour is taking its toll on the bodies of the young Bangladesh side.

Bangladesh seek redemption but wash-out looms © Cricinfo

After missing Mashrafe Mortaza in the series opener, Bangladesh is set to play the final ODI without their ace batsman and vice-captain Mohammad Ashraful who is suffering from a fever and is hospitalised.

The Bangladesh cricketers will definitely try to give a befitting farewell to their coach Dav Whatmore and captain Habibul Bashar, who is playing his last ODI at home soil, by trying to win the third one-dayer but weather is set to play a major role in their fight back.

It drizzled overnight in Chittagong and this morning there was a brief recess. But the outfield was understandably damp and both teams were forced to practice at the indoor facility.

The forecast for tomorrow is not looking good at all, as the depression in the east central Bay intensified into a cyclone, compelling the Chittagong maritime port to issue danger signal number seven. According to meteorological office sources, tomorrow there is a 60 percent chance of rain and it could be accompanied by gusty wind.

Although India have avenged the World Cup loss Bangladesh by winning the first two ODIs in Dhaka, the visitors will be keen to keep their winning momentum if weather permits any play tomorrow.

India have already declared the 12 man squad for the match leaving out paceman Sreesanth who is nursing an injury, and Zaheer Khan who has been rested. RP Singh and Robin Uthappa are set to get their first match of the tour as India wants to experiment in the match, which is of academic interest only.,/p>

Bangladesh is forced to make one change in their 12 man squad as Mohammad Ashraful is out due to fever, all-rounder Farhad Reza is getting the nod over Shahriar Nafees to fill the slot.

Teams (from):

India : Rahul Dravid (c), Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, M S Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Dinesh Mongia, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, S Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, R P Singh.

Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (c), Mohammad Ashraful, Javed Omar, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mashrafe Mortaza, Syed Rasel, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammad Rafique and Farhad Reza.

Umpires: Ashoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Enamul Haque (Bangladesh).