ODI series preview: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe

Cricket365
November 8, 2015

Zimbabwe seem to be the team to call upon these days when you have a gap in your schedule, because they're so desperate for some cricket and are likely to be free, and Bangladesh will look to make sure that call pays off.

The Tigers are hosting a limited overs series this month after Australia withdrew from their tour in October due to security reasons. Zimbabwe braved Pakistan earlier this year, so Bangladesh is easy in comparison.

The hosts will be confident of victory on home soil, given their excellent ODI record this year, including series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, just lost a T20 and ODI series to Afghanistan, in Zimbabwe, so will either be so dejected that they're demolished, or so desperate to restore some pride that they shock the hosts.

The last time Zim visited, they lost all five ODIs, with three of those in Dhaka. This entire series will be played in the capital, so banishing those ghosts will be imperative.

The Tigers are without paceman Rubel Hossain, who has not recovered from the calf injury he picked up against India in September while playing for the A-side. But Al-Amin Hossain is back to provide the pace.

Shakib-al-Hasan is also playing, despite his wife being on the brink of giving birth, while skipper Mashrafe Mortaza is fit after his stint with Dengue fever. Imrul Kayes has replaced an injured Soumya Sarkar in the squad.

Zim have recalled Regis Chakabva to shore up the batting order, and Graeme Cremer has returned to the spin attack. All eyes will be on Sikandar Raza, Pakistani by birth and cricketing education, to do well in the conditions.

Key men

For the hosts, leg spinner Jubair Hossain could be crucial, after taking four wickets for just five runs recently for the A team. He is likely to be someone Zimbabwe will not be comfortable facing.

Zim need skipper Elton Chigumbura to keep his good run of form with the bat going, after his 64 not out in the warm up match win over a BCB XI. He's their most experienced player in the absence of Hamilton Masakadza.

Last Five Head-To-Head Results

2014 Fifth ODI: Bangladesh won by five wickets in Dhaka
2014 Fourth ODI: Bangladesh won by 21 runs in Dhaka
2014 Third ODI: Bangladesh won by 124 runs in Dhaka
2014 Second ODI: Bangladesh won by 68 runs in Chittagong
2014 First ODI: Bangladesh won by 87 runs in Chittagong

Squads

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza(capt), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

Fixtures

First ODI: 7 November in Dhaka
Second ODI: 9 November in Dhaka
Third ODI: 11 November in Dhaka