Bangladesh will take on Zimbabwe in the 3rd and last match of the Bashundhara Cement Test Series on Wednesday with an opportunity to whitewash the visiting side at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in port city Chittagong.
The match will begin at 9:30 am.Tigers took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series beating Zimbabwe by a massive 162 runs in the 2nd match at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna, to follow their 3-wicket win in the first match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.With the Tigers’ win in the Khulna Test, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan wrote his name into the record books as the 3rd cricketer after Imran Khan (1983) and Ian Botham (1980) to score a century (137) and claim 10 wickets in a Test match while Shuvagata Hom made his maiden half-century scoring 50 runs. With that performance, Shakib returned to the top slot of the ICC Players’ Ranking for Test all-rounders with 419 rating points leapfrogging R Aswhin of India.Shakib will look to secure a Man-of-the-Series award for the third time in his career in Chittagong.After the Test series, apart from a one-day-match against BCB XI on November 19, the visiting side will play two ODI’s against the hosts on November 21 and 23 at the same venue.Zimbabwe will play the remaining three ODI’s of their current tour against the home side at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on November 26, 28 and December 1. The only change from the squad for the 2nd Test in Khulna, in the 14-man Bangladesh squad for the 3rd Test is left-handed opening batsman Imrul Kayes replaced by Shamsur Rahman.Meanwhile, right-arm medium-fast bowler Shahadat Hossain is set to be rested with Shafiul Islam likely to replace him. Shuvagata Hom who batting usefully in the second innings in Khulna could hold on to his number seven position.On the other hand, Zimbabwe is expected to field the same team with Natsai M’shangwe keeping his place as the specialist spinner after taking a four-for in the second innings in Khulna.Bangladesh squad (Probaqbly): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Taijul Islam.Zimbabwe squad (Probably): Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (captain), Regis Chakabva, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Malcolm Waller, Tinashe Panyangara, Natsai M’shangwe and Tendai Chatara. -UNB
