Under the captaincy of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh's success rate stands at just 23 percent -- three wins in 13 matches. Even Miraz's own performance graph has dipped, both as a batter and a bowler, since being entrusted with the ODI armband.

While walking off the ground after the post-match presentation for the third ODI between Bangladesh and the West Indies on Thursday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul jokingly told the media personnel present there, "You can't call it a paddy field today."

You’ve probably seen that image: an elephant, a fish, and a monkey all told to climb a tree. It’s often used to show how the education system unfairly judges everyone by the same test, leaving some to shine and others to feel inadequate. The image makes its point perfectly. But its lesson shouldn’t stop at the classroom door.

A sense of disbelief was palpable at the press box at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur after Bangladesh openers Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan unleashed a batting carnage against the West Indies in the series-deciding third ODI yesterday.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy admitted that Bangladesh outplayed his side in all three departments, resulting in their 2-1 series defeat in the three-match ODI series in Mirpur.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said that he has been getting advice from former captains Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal during his captaincy stint.

A pitch darker than my future, and offering sharper turn than an Agatha Christie thriller, greeted the West Indies at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium for yet another all-important bilateral three-match ODI series.

After falling into the spin trap they had laid themselves in the second ODI, Bangladesh are heading into today's third and final match of the series against the West Indies short of confidence as the visitors have seemingly cracked the code on how to win in the Mirpur turner.

The two sides will meet again on Thursday in the series decider at the same venue.

Spin it to win it -- that seems to be the mantra of Bangladesh and the West Indies heading into today's second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed said that he ‘100 percent’ expects Rishad Hossain to play Tests for the Tigers and believes he can be a solid option in the five-day format as well.

Currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI standings and outside the direct qualification zone for the 2027 World Cup, Bangladesh face a crucial year ahead.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed has been included in the Bangladesh ODI squad for the ongoing series against the West Indies.

The wicket served at Mirpur wore a dark foreboding.

Rows of empty seats glowed under the lights, as if waiting for voices that never came. The ground, where once thousands roared at every wicket and every run, now echoed only with the wind.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope on Saturday admitted that the lack of adaptability from their batters cost them the opening ODI of the three-match series against hosts Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

“In the end, it was a great knock by Rishad,” Miraz said at the post-match presentation. 

The match is set to begin at 1:30 pm.

The three-match ODI series will begin on October 18 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

The lack of depth in the player's pipeline is an oft-repeated cliché in Bangladesh cricket and was on display yet again by Thursday's squad announcement for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies, starting on October 18.