After being snubbed for the ODI series, Soumya Sarkar and Ariful Haque have been called up for the T20I squad of Bangladesh against West Indies. Both these players featured for Bangladesh in their last T20I series against Afghanistan in Dehradun, which the Afghans won 3-0.

Bangladesh were once again whitewashed in their next series – albeit in Test cricket this time – by the West Indies but they have saved themselves from the same fate by winning the first ODI against the hosts.

After the conclusion of the ODI series, Bangladesh will play a three-match T20I series against the Caribbean outfit, who are the reigning world champions in the format and will be much harder to beat.

However, Ariful Haque believes that while there is no doubt that the Windies are a strong side, playing at their best on a certain day could ensure that the Tigers win the match.

‘West Indies are one of the best sides in T20s, there is no doubt about this. But this is cricket. Most of us didn’t expect Bangladesh to win the first ODI. Everything is possible in cricket. The one who plays better on a particular day wins. We also have the same thought, if we can make the day ours, then we can obviously defeat them.’

The duo are expected to depart for the Caribbean later tonight as Anamul Haque Bijoy and Nazmul Hasan Shanto are expected to return to the country with Mashrafe Mortaza after the end of the ODI series.