Bangladesh will try to avoid a series whitewash when they face West Indies in the second and final Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Play begins at 9:30am.

The hosts lost the opening Test in Dhaka by eight wickets, a heavy blow to their World Test Championship (WTC) ambitions. West Indies’ spinners outperformed their Bangladeshi counterparts, raising questions over the home side’s spin-heavy strategy given the recent resurgence of their pace attack.

Bangladesh are now expected to prepare a more sporting surface in Sylhet, which traditionally assists seamers early before offering turn on the fourth and fifth days. One of Taskin Ahmed and local pacer Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury could replace a spinner.

Mominul Haque has been ruled out with a head injury, while Mushfiqur Rahim is likely to return after missing the first Test. Amite Hasan, called up as Mominul’s replacement, is in contention after a double century and a 94 in his last two first-class innings. He described the Sylhet pitch as sporting, with grass still visible.

West Indies, unbeaten in bilateral series this year, are eyeing a sweep in their final match of the current WTC cycle. “This next game starts from zero,” batting coach Floyd Reifer said.

Bangladesh have won five of 23 Tests against the Caribbean side, losing 16, and were swept 2-0 when West Indies last toured in 2021.