Tinkering on the cards in dead rubber
With the three-match ODI series already sealed with a game in hand, Bangladesh will be looking to experiment with the team combination in the third and final game against Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chattogram today.
The match, rendered a dead rubber as Bangladesh won the first two matches, is set to start at 2:30pm.
The team management will look to provide opportunities to untested players Abu Hider, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Hossain Shanto likely to get a run. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain has recovered from fever and Soumya Sarkar was included in the squad for the last game.
It was learned that Nazmul is likely to replace Fazle Rabbi, who was dismissed for ducks in the first two games, at number three. Ariful, who has been travelling with the team for some time, is also expected to get a chance after the all-rounder was named in the Test squad for the first time.
Mustafizur Rahman, who has an elbow niggle, is likely to be rested and left-arm seamer Hider could replace him. It is still not certain whether Rubel will get an opportunity today as he is already proven and the team management are eager to see new faces in action.
Soumya, once again getting an emergency call midway through a series after he was flown to the UAE during last month's Asia Cup, was rewarded for his recent domestic performances and his hundred in the warm-up game against Zimbabwe and is expected to bat at number seven.
He will also have to play a role with his medium pace as the team management has been searching for a seam-bowling all-rounder.
The opening combination, however, is likely to be unchanged as Imrul Kayes and Liton Das have proved their consistency of late.
Their 148-run partnership in the second game helped Bangladesh chase the target of 248 with ease.
Zimbabwe are desperately in search for their first win against Bangladesh since 2013 and their batting has been the biggest concern. Skipper Hamilton Masakadza would want to cash in on the opportunity against a relatively fresh Bangladesh side to avoid a whitewash and prepare for the following Test series in high spirits.
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