Tigers face Zim in first ODI today
Bangladesh are set to return to their favoured format after almost seven months when they take on Zimbabwe in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
The day-night game is scheduled to start from 1:00pm local time.
The series has its own significance although the focus has been on Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who will return to the national fold after playing his last ODI against Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup at Lord's.
Speculation over Mashrafe's international future has reached new heights recently and circumstances hint that this could be his last series as ODI captain.
Things have soured for the Tigers in the 50-over format after their eighth-placed finish in the World Cup was followed by a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka in August last year.
However, major changes to the coaching staff, including the appointment of head coach Russell Domingo, means a lot has changed for Bangladesh since then, with the squad against Zimbabwe featuring at least seven changes to the team from their previous ODI.
"Performance is important for all players and it's the same with me. But more important is the that the team wins. We have not won a game in the past three or four ODIs. So, it is important for the team to win," Mashrafe told reporters yesterday.
Domingo will surely be looking to test a few fresh faces in the series with the long-term plan in mind and young left-handed opener Mohammad Naim is a player that may be handed an ODI debut as an opener alongside Tamim Iqbal.
The focus will also be on the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, who is coming into the series with a record double century in the one-off Test against the same opposition last week.
With an intention to have sporting pitches, Bangladesh are likely to form a pace-heavy line-up.
It was learned that the team management may opt for three specialist pacers with skipper Mashrafe, Mustafizur Rahman and Shafiul Islam alongside seaming all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who will be making a return from injury as the fourth pacer.
On the other hand, the visitors will be looking to break their seven-year-long losing streak against the Tigers in the format, having lost their past 13 games on the trot.
Zimbabwe's newly-appointed limited overs captain Chamu Chibhabha claimed that playing a lot of cricket in and against Bangladesh over the past years would be an advantage for the visitors. The likes of Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams will provide experience in the batting line-up.
The SICS, which is undoubtedly the most scenic stadium in Bangladesh, will host a full series for the first time, with all three ODIs in the north-eastern city.
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