Sammy first toured Bangladesh as a player in 2011 and has since played 20 international matches in the country across formats before retiring. Beyond international cricket, he also featured in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), first for Rangpur Riders in 2015 and later for Rajshahi Kings in the following two seasons.
Although he hasn’t played in the BPL since 2017, Sammy’s long association with Bangladeshi cricket has given him valuable insight. Now returning as West Indies’ head coach, he said he holds fond personal memories of the country.
“Coming back to Bangladesh is always a joy,” Sammy said. “I have some wonderful personal memories here. This time, I’m here in a different role, but I hope my experience playing in these conditions will help. Many of our players have also played here before, whether for West Indies or in the BPL. We’ll need to perform well here.”
West Indies currently sit ninth in the ICC ODI rankings with 80 rating points, just above Bangladesh, who have 74.
With the 2027 ICC World Cup set to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, this series is crucial for both teams as they chase direct qualification. A series win against Bangladesh could push the West Indies much closer to securing their spot.
“We’re on a mission to qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup. That’s where our focus is. If we can collect the necessary points, we’ll be in a strong position. We had a successful series against Bangladesh at home, but we know they’re always a tough side in their own conditions. To win here, we must play top-quality cricket” said Sammy.
Bangladesh’s recent form has been dismal, losing all their last four ODI series and managing only two wins in their last 14 matches over the past year. They were also whitewashed by West Indies in the last bilateral ODI series in November–December.
Despite Bangladesh’s struggles, Sammy refuses to take them lightly.
“They’re playing at home. They know these conditions far better than we do. As I and my captain both agree, Bangladesh are very strong at home. To beat them, we’ll have to play exceptional cricket.”
