Bangladesh enter as favourites for the 5 match ODI encounter against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have been facing troubles with the squad composition. While captain Terrence Duffin is expected to make it through from an overseas visit, the squad itself has not been announced by the Zimbabwe Cricket board.
The visitors had a good outing prior to the series kick off, with a comprehensive victory against the Zimbabwe Board XI. Bangladesh spearhead quickie Mashrafe Mortaza hit top form demolishing the opposition with a five wicket haul. Aftab Ahmad and Javed Omar steered the visitors past the meagre target of 198 without any fuss.
Bangladesh will hope that Zimbabwe will prove a happy hunting ground against a scarred Zimbabwe side. All in all, it will be a learning experience for both the teams keeping an eye on their previous performances.
**Sat 29: 1st ODI - Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Harare Sports Club
Start Time = 7:30 GMT
**
Bangladesh incorporated two young all-rounders, Saqibul Hasan and Forhad Reza, in their 15-man squad for the tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya following outstanding performances with the youth teams over the past year.
Faruq Ahmed, the chief selector said: “They are very good cricketers in all departments of the game. We have high hopes from them and it’s time for them to perform at the international level.”
Even Bangladesh has started the trend of including young players in their team at the possible expense of their number of years of inexperience and rawness. Rest assured, this tour to Zimbabwe followed closely to Kenya will immensely be of assistance to these developing youngsters who are constantly up-and-coming with delight performances while knocking the doors of selectors. The noticable thing is, these players have not gone unnoticed, and even if they don’t get a chance to play, just by having surrounded with senior members of the team will reflect brightly upon them and their future, unlike…