T20 World Cup | Australia needs a win against Bangladesh to stay afloat

Bangladesh, out of the semifinal race, has only pride to play for

Questions were raised when left-arm spinner Ashton Agar (far right) replaced Mitchell Marsh in the playing eleven against England. File

Australia will take on Bangladesh in a must-win Group 1 Super 12 contest of the ICC T20 World Cup here on Thursday.

It needs to beat Bangladesh and then the West Indies on November 6 to keep its qualification hopes alive. Even then its fate will hinge on England beating South Africa on Saturday.

Bangladesh is at the bottom of the points table with four losses.

Australia exposed Glenn Maxwell, its best batter, to a raging England attack by sending him at No. 4. Either Marcus Stoinis or Matthew Wade could be promoted to take the sting out of the bowling in such situations. Mitchell Marsh, who was dropped for the clash with England to include Ashton Agar, could return against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh could bring back Mustafizur Rahman in place of Nasum Ahmed. Taskin Ahmed bowled superbly for his two for 18 against South Africa. He will be one to watch.

Rangana Herath, Bangladesh spin-bowling coach, remains optimistic despite his team’s poor run. “We need to maintain that winning mindset and build confidence.”