Dhaka, July 10 (UNB)- A 15-member Bangladesh National Cricket team will leave Dhaka for Ireland tomorrow (Wednesday) hoping to beat Ireland in a three-match T20 series.

During the Europe tour, the Bengal Tigers will play five T20 matches-
three against Ireland, one each against Scotland and the Netherlands.

In a press conference at Mirpur Stadium ahead of the tour, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said if the team can play its usual game there is no reason to lose matches against Ireland. “Playing in overseas conditions is not easy, but the performances of the last couple of years have made us a strong and confident side,” Mushfiq added.

Replying to a question whether the team is balanced or not, Bangladesh coach Richard Pybus said, “We’re working to form a balanced team for the T20 World Cup in Sri lanka next September.

“The boys are eager to display best performances to enter the national squad in a fair competition among some national cricketers and A team players and competition is always good for a team.” he added

Replying to a question about the return of Sakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, both coach Pybus and skipper Mushfiq said the key players are always very important for the team.

Earlier, for the Europe tour, world number one all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and injury-prone pacer Shafiul Islam returned to the squad while teenage batsman Anamul Haque and all-rounder Farhad Reza of the tri-nation series team in Zimbabwe have been dropped.

Shakib had been rested for the tri-series in Zimbabwe while Shafiul Islam returned to the side after being sidelined by a shoulder injury he suffered during the Asia Cup in March.

The Bengal Tigers will start their Ireland tour with a three-match series against Ireland on July 18, 20 and 21, all at the Civil Service Club, Stormont in Belfast.

The second leg will be held at The Hague, where Bangladesh will play Scotland on July 24 and the Netherlands on July 25.

It will be Bangladesh's second preparatory tour ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September.

Bangladesh Team: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Elias Sunny, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain and Abul Hasan.