Bangladesh hope to regain lost momentum in T20Is

Bangladesh will be looking to regain their lost momentum in the shortest-format as they prepare to take on Ireland in the three-match series, said team director Abdur Razzak. Bangladesh team left for Chattogram on Tuesday to take on the visitors with the series scheduled to kickoff on November 27.

The Litton Das-led T20 side will be eyeing some rhythm as they head into the series on the back of a 3-0 series loss to West Indies at their own backyard. The series will be of massive importance considering it will be Bangladesh's final international assignment before the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February.

Bangladesh have played seven T20I series this year, winning four and losing three, and also reached the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup T20. "It's difficult to predict the final outcome right now. But our target will be to finish well. Of course, we want to win the series. We will try to win every match," Razzak told reporters at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before departing for Chattogram.

"Our main target is to win the series. Against the West Indies, we won one series and lost one. So it wouldn't be fair to say we didn't do well – it was average. It would have been great if we had won both. This time, our aim is to win the T20I series as well," he added.

"We have actually won most of our recent series – one way or another. If we are winning, how can I call that bad? I don't see it that way. But since this is a game of momentum, we must ensure we keep the momentum with us. The team that holds momentum longer ends up winning. We will try to make sure the momentum stays with us as long as possible," he said.

Razzak said it is too early to evaluate the impact of former national skipper Mohammad Ashraful, who joined the team as a batting coach ahead of the Ireland series, but believes his presence will benefit the squad.

"Speaking of Ashraful's experience – he is one of our most experienced cricketers. Quite naturally…but it's just one series so far, so it's difficult to evaluate anything in such a short time. These things become clearer after a while, when you see the impact," said Razzak.

"He is definitely focusing more on tactics than technique. I notice he always stays close to the batters – during training and even during matches he talks to them. I believe this will have a positive impact," he added.

After the conclusion of the first T20I, the two teams will play two more games on November 29 and December 2.