Tigers face Zimbabwe in opener today

Tri-nation series

January 15, 2018 00:00:00

Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe in the seven-ODI-match Tri-nation series opener, which starting at 2:30 pm today (Monday) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur, reports UNB.

The One Day International (ODI) records between the two rivals showed that the Tigers are far ahead than the visiting Zimbabwean with 39 victories against 28 losses among their 67 encounters, since October 1997.

Moreover, Bangladesh is the seventh-best ODI side in ICC rankings while Sri Lanka are ninth and Zimbabwe 10th.

Among their 15 bilateral ODI series battles, Bangladesh won on nine occasions against six losses.

In their recent series battles, Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe twice by 5-0 and 3-0 margin in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Going by records and home ground advantage, many consider the host Bangladesh as favourite, but Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza wants to keep his feet on the soil ahead of the series.

"It will not easy. No matter, who the opponents are. Look on to the Zimbabwean side, they are a strong team. They beat Sri Lanka on their home soil recently," said Mashrafe while talking to journalists in a pre-match press conference at SBNCS media block on Sunday.

Graeme Cremer captained Zimbabwe to a 3-2 series win over Sri Lanka in July 2017.

"Of course, we want to win with cards well. We expect as the other sides expects. We have to stay in the race of the tournament as the Sri Lankan side also a good opponent," Mashrafe added.

Squads

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah Riyad, Imrul Kayes, Anamul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Abul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mohammad Mithun and Sunzamul Islam.

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer (captain), Ryan Murray, Tendai Chisoro, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Christopher Mpofu, Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis.