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| Cricbuzz |
Bangladesh T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan is ready to give up his favourite batting position - number three - as per the demands of the team. Bangladesh is still figuring out the batting order for the T20 format, with the T20I tri-series in New Zealand, also involving Pakistan, being their last international assignment before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Shakib, who will be making a comeback to the side after missing the two-match series against the UAE due to his CPL commitments, might bat at No. 4. Soumya Sarkar or Nazmul Hossain could replace make-shift opener Sabbir Rahman or come in at three if Litton Das goes back to his usual opening spot. Meanwhile, the team management is impressed with Mehidy Hasan at the top and would like to carry on with him as one of the openers while Afif Hossain is expected to bat at five with Yasir Ali, Mossadek Hossain and Nurul Hasan to follow in the batting order.
Shakib has played 40 matches at number three, making 1034 runs at an average of 28.72 and a strike-rate of 122.36. Since his return after the ban, the left-hander has played 25 matches, scoring 478 at a strike-rate of 111.68 with only one fifty to his name. At number four Shakib recently scored a half-century in the CPL and the team management feels he is best suited there as it will allow him to guide the middle-order and let Litton or anyone else do the job at three.