Dhaka – After winning the first of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, Tigers are now eying to wrap up the series on Tuesday when they will take on the visitors in the second match at Sylhet International Stadium.
The match will kick off at 1pm and Gtv will telecast it live. The third and final match of the series will be played on March 6 in Sylhet.
After the ODI series, both teams will lock horns in a two-match T20I series in Dhaka on March 9 and 11.
In the first ODI, Bangladesh had an easy victory, riding on the superb batting by Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun. Liton came up with his second ODI hundred while Mithun smashed a fifty.
After an aggressive batting display, Bangladesh put more pressure on Zimbabwe when the latter went to chase a big total of 321 runs.
Pacer Mohammad Saifuddin, who returned to international cricket after five months due to injury, took three wickets. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza also did well to guide the Tigers to a record win by 169 runs.
Despite a big win, Bangladesh’s top-order batting woes remained as Tamim Iqbal failed to come out of his slough. He scored 24 runs playing 43 balls with two fours. Tamim’s batting was something that did not suit Bangladesh’s style in the first game.
Ahead of the series, talks about the possible retirement of ODI captain Mashrafe took precedence over any cricketing discussion. If Bangladesh can win the second game, it might be Bangladesh’s last series win under the captaincy of Mashrafe.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan told the media several times that they are looking for a new captain in the 50-over format to replace Mashrafe. However, neither the BCB nor Mashrafe has confirmed anything to end the drama over Mashrafe’s retirement.
While Bangladesh are looking to pocket the series in the second game, Zimbabwe are also eying to bounce back. Their confidence was boosted by the presence of regular captain Sean Williams, who joined the team during the first ODI.
In the absence of Williams, Craig Ervine led Zimbabwe in the one-off Test of the series. He was supposed to lead the team in the first ODI as well. But due to a sudden illness, he missed the first game that forced Zimbabwe to include batting-coach Stuart Matsikenyeri into the squad.
However, as per the latest update from Sylhet, both Williams and Ervine are now set to play the next game.
Including the first game of this series, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe faced each other in 73 ODIs with Bangladesh winning 45 of them while Zimbabwe came up victorious in 28 games so far.
Bangladesh playing XI (probable): Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Taijul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman
Zimbabwe playing XI (probable): Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Wesley Madhevere, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sean Williams (capt), Sikandar Raza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Donald Tiripano, Ainsley Ndlovu, Chris Mpofu and Carl Mumba.UNB
