Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday in the opening match of the three-match T20I series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The visitors will want to make a strong start in the shortest format after a poor tour so far and Zimbabwe will be looking to make a strong start as one of the big winners of the ODI series to build a winning momentum following Zimbabwe's recent ODI series win.
The T20I series follows Zimbabwe’s great 2-1 victory in the ODI leg, where the hosts beat Bangladesh to win the series in record time. With confidence and home conditions to back up home conditions, Sikandar Raza’s team will be able to continue to dominate T20.
Bangladesh are also anxious to bounce back in the wake of losing both the one-off Test and the ODI series. The tourists are without many of their senior players and are having to pick up a relatively inexperienced side due to the absence of a number of important players. Towhid Hridoy is leading the side, while regular players such as Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, and Mustafizur Rahman are not available due to their commitments to the Lanka Premier League. Taskin Ahmed, who was originally not expected to be in the lineup for the first test due to Sri Lanka Premier League commitments, is in the starting XI for the test.
Zimbabwe's lineup will be led by experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza. The hosts will rely on some key players such as Ryan Burl, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, and Brian Bennett to continue their recent success against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Playing XI
Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy (captain), Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan (wicketkeeper), Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana.
Zimbabwe Playing XI
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Milton Shumba, Clive Madande (wicketkeeper), Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
The match is played at Queens Sports Club, a venue known for helping batters and seam bowlers. So Bangladesh will take advantage of any early movement in overcast conditions and limit Zimbabwe to a small total.
Zimbabwe enter the contest in good shape as they had a T20 World Cup campaign last year in which they beat Australia in the qualifiers and made it to the Super Eight stage. This team is ever more cohesive and focused under Raza's leadership.
For Bangladesh, the series will serve as a way to rebuild confidence ahead of international assignments. Young players such as Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Nahid Rana have an opportunity to cement their place in the national team, and experienced campaigners like Mohammad Saifuddin and Nurul Hasan will be expected to guide the relatively young squad.
India fans can watch Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I live on the FanCode app and website. Both teams are eager to start the series on a winning footing to do well, and there will be action in Bulawayo as Zimbabwe will be keen to continue their recent success while Bangladesh are looking to make a much-needed turnaround.
