Hosts Bangladesh will look to maintain their supremacy at home when they take on visitors England Wednesday in the first of three one-day internationals at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Bangladesh, with the 2-1 series win against India, have won seven consecutive ODI series at home and made a significant progress in the ODI rankings.
Currently placed at No. 7, the home side will be eager to continue their growth in 50-over cricket and secure their maiden ODI bilateral series win against England.
Bangladesh faced England 21 times in this format, but won only four.
Bangladesh will lock horns with England for the first time in seven years at home, and there is confidence in the air.
But the home side would like to avoid the concerns which have been triggered in the surroundings by the chief of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Nazmul Hasan.
Nazmul's revelation of the rift between two of the biggest Bangladesh cricketers – Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan - and possible groupings in the national dressing room has proven to be a major distraction.
This was followed by Tamim playing cool with the allegations and assuring that this won't affect performance on the field and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha being straightforward that not everyone in the dressing room has to be best of friends, which just goes to show the strong characters and focus prevalent in the team.
“I have been on the job for seven days. I have been in dressing rooms and I have been in teams where everyone doesn't get along. Still, when they step out, they play as a team. When you play for your national team that's what you expect. You don't need to be best of friends to go out and have dinner. As long as it is not affecting, I don't see it as a problem,” said Hathurusingha in the pre-series press conference in Mirpur Tuesday.
Tamim, the Bangladesh ODI captain, has returned to international cricket for the first time since August last year.
The left-handed opener has retired from Twenty20 internationals and was thus not part of the long T20I schedule, including the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
He was set to return with the home series against India in December but was ruled out due to groin injury.
Anamul Haque will have to make way for Tamim.
Jofra Archer bowls during training Tuesday AFPThe southpaw's return will strengthen the batting line-up that includes veterans in Shakib, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, complemented with the effort from in-form duo Liton Das and Mehedi Hasan Miraz.
The wicket at SBNS tends to help the spinners and will give edge to top Bangladesh spinners Shakib, Miraz and Taijul Islam, provided he makes playing XI.
Hathurusingha has been open and loud in getting the most out of home advantage.
Taijul could play in Ebadot Hossain's slot as the third specialist spinner.
Eyes will be on-song right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed too.
Despite the low and slow nature of Mirpur pitches in the past, the business end of the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League T20 was a different case as healthy totals were posted.
It remains to be seen whether that new trend continues.
World champions England will count on local experience that some of the cricketers bring into the dressing room with Moeen Ali in the forefront.
The all-rounder was a hero for Comilla Victorians in the BPL final against Sylhet Strikers.
England have recalled Will Jacks, James Vince and Mark Wood to the ODI fold as another English group are busy playing Test cricket against New Zealand.
Rehan Ahmed seems like an interesting choice too, given how the Dhaka wickets tend to assist the slow bowlers.
Bangladesh XI [probable]:
Tamim Iqbal (capt), Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman