Tigers-Zimbabwe 2nd Test begins today
Sports Reporter:
The second Test cricket match between Bangladesh Cricket team and Zimbabwe Cricket team will begin today at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium (BSSFLMRS) in Chattogram, the port city of the country. The first day of the crucial 2nd Test match will start at 10:00am (Bangladesh Standard Time). Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the Tigers, while Captain of Zimbabwe Cricket team Craig Ervine will lead the African side.
State- owned television channel BTV will telecast the match live from the match-venue.
Before today’s match, the Tigers and Zimbabwe faced each other in 19 Test matches. Of them, Bangladesh won in eight Test matches, while Zimbabwe recorded eight victories and rest of the three occasions ended in draws.
The pitch (BSSFLMRS) of Chattogram is best batting pitch of the country, with the last two teams batting first here scoring 500-plus runs each. It is a tough task to get success to bowl here, which could be detrimental for the home side as they try to level the series. There is a forecast for rain on the first three days. Bangladesh tasted a three-wicket defeat in the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, leaving the Trigers trailing 1-0 in the two-match Test series. With the pressure mounting, the Head Coach of Bangladesh Cricket team Phil Simmons has stressed the importance of maintaining focus and avoiding distractions, both on and off the field.
Phil Simmons said, ” I shall definitely ask the supporters, especially in Bangladesh to be calm and quiet. I know how much passion and love there is for cricket here. Everyone wants that the Tigers will perform better. But I shall request for patience. We are trying our level best to achieve things right at the right time.”
The West Indies-born Head Coach of Bangladesh also emphasised the need to shield players from outside controversies, particularly amid ongoing debates surrounding Towhid Hridoy’s disciplinary issues in the Dhaka Premier League (Dhaka Premier League) Cricket.
Simmons said, “As coaches, we try to keep the players away from these external matters and we are playing a Test match. We have our final team meeting coming up. We are concentrating on what’s ahead and not allowing ourselves to be distracted.”
The Tigers Head Coach remained tight-lipped about the Bangladesh’s final line-up for the Chattogram Test. He hinted that the Tigers could either field three seamers or opt for three spinners. Everything depends on conditions.
He said, “It will either be three pacers and two spinners, or three spinners and two pacers. But I cannot say for sure just yet. We will make the final decision later.”
Reflecting on the pitch conditions, the West Indies-born Coach described the wicket at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium as “hard and flat. It could favour Bangladesh if it offered some turn.
“We are expecting to make the most of the conditions. If there is some turn, that would work in favour of the spinners of our team,” he added.
Simmons also said, “ Usually the pitches of Chattogram act in favour of the bowlers, who bowl spin. The pacers will also earn the favour from the pitches using their accuracy and pace”.
Bangladesh Cricket squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Zimbabwe Cricket squad: Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.