Tigers seek turnaround

After a dismal one-off Test against Afghanistan, Bangladesh will attempt to turn their fortunes around when they take on Zimbabwe in the opening game of the T20 tri-series, which also includes Afghanistan, at the Sher-Bangla-National Stadium in Mirpur today.

The match is set to start at 6:30pm, but rain could be a big factor in whether it starts in time or whether a full game is possible. 

It has not been easy sailing for the Tigers since their eighth-placed finish in the recently concluded World Cup in England in July. Bangladesh had toured Sri Lanka later in the same month, only to be whitewashed in a three-match ODI series. And when Bangladesh returned to the longer version of the game after six months, the Tigers were humiliated by Afghanistan -- a team playing just their third Test -- in Chattogram on Monday.

But T20Is are a different ball game and the Tigers will be hoping to fare better with a change in format. However, going into the tri-series as hosts, Bangladesh are still not clear favourites, given their overall record in the shortest format.

The Tigers have won just three of their last 10 T20Is. Bangladesh have also not been in fine fettle against their two opponents in the tri-series. The last time Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh back in 2016, the hosts were unable to clinch a win in a four-match series even after winning the first two games of the series. The visitors levelled the series 2-2 by winning the final two matches in Khulna.

Bangladesh's chances also do not look bright against Afghanistan -- who at seventh are ranked three places higher than the Tigers in T20Is. Bangladesh have played a total of four matches against Afghanistan and could manage a solitary win which came back in the World Twenty20 in 2014 in Mirpur. While Bangladesh could take inspiration from that nine-wicket victory, the odds will favour Afghanistan when the two sides lock horns on September 15 in Mirpur as the Tigers were whitewashed in a three-match series the last time the two sides met in Afghanistan's adopted home venue in Dehradun last year. 

Today however, even though Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan admitted to new coach Russell Domingo that ODIs are their favourite format, will be an opportunity for the hosts to outplay a lower-ranked side and start getting their cricket back on track.