FANTASY
Follow UsThree days ago, Bangladesh did not have a T20I win against Australia. Not only they have rectified that, they also stand a chance to win their first international series against them, having won the first two games of this five-match T20I series. It is now or never for Australia as they fight to keep the series alive.
Ground Details and Team Combination
Amongst the Test playing nations, Bangladesh as a host country has the second lowest run-rate in T20Is since 2019 - 7.2. It slumps further in this series, to 6.2. A major reason behind these numbers is the sluggish tracks in Bangladesh, aiding spinners and medium-pacers who rely on variations rather than pace. 
Things are not expected to change in the third T20I as well. In addition, Australia have struggled to get going against spin. They average only 24 runs per wicket against spin in this format since 2019, only better than Sri Lanka and Ireland amongst Test playing nations.
Teams also lose a lot wickets at the death, trying to up the ante which is rather tough on slow tracks. Hence, we recommend a bowling heavy side loaded with spinners. Pacers who bowl at the death also vouch a place.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you to create the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy Suggestion
Shakib Al Hasan is the dream all-rounder in any format of the game. He can be your fantasy captain as a bowler alone. The last time he did not pick in a T20I, it was in September 2019. On top of that, he is Bangladesh’s most experienced batsman as well, who bats at number three. He has played crucial roles with both bat and ball in these two games, making it hard to look past him for the captaincy choice.
Our Criclytics Players Projector predicts Shakib could score 15-23 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match
X-Factors
Mitchell Marsh has been the sole consistent performer for Australia ever since they have been on the road. He has 309 runs in this season for Australia. The next best is Aaron Finch with 127 runs and is not on this tour. Marsh has scored 45 in each of the first two T20Is and Australia will once again look at him to guide them with the bat. Marsh delivered with the ball as well in West Indies. This series, he has bowled only one over but there is a chance that Australia may lengthen their batting and use more of Marsh, the bowler.
Mahedi Hasan has surfaced as a utility cricketer in his limited time as an international cricketer. An off-spinner, he has picked a wicket each in both T20s, bagging the left-hander Alex Carey on both occasions. He was also promoted to number four in the second T20 where he played a handy knock of 23 runs. We believe Bangladesh can try that ploy again to boost the run-rate during the middle-overs which makes us prefer him over Nasum Ahmed.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points-
Player Match-Ups
Moises Henriques has had his troubles against left-arm finger spin and Bangladesh are likely to have two of them in their XI - Nasum Ahmed and Shakib al Hasan. Shakib, in fact, has nailed him both times in this series.
Probable XIs
Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah (c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasun Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam
Australia: Alex Carey, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade (c/wk), Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewoodm
