Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team will take on Zimbabwe Cricket team in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) match today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, the port city of the country.
The match will start at 6:00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). Private satellite sports channel T Sports will telecast the match live. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh team as the captain, while Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe as the skipper.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe faced each other in 20 T20I matches. Of them, Bangladesh registered 13 victories, while Zimbabwe won in the seven occasions.
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe last played each other in Brisbane of Australia in ICC T20 World Cup 2022. In that match, Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by three runs. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be held in the United States of America and West Indies from June 1 to June 29. Marking the ensuing World Cup, Bangladesh-Zimbabwe played a five-match T20I series.
Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto said, ” In T20I cricket, there are no big team or small team, according to strength. Zimbabwe lost to Uganda recently.
But they beat Sri Lanka before arrived in Bangladesh. I am thinking about our preparation and our self confidence. It seems to me the five-match T20I series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will not an easy task for us. I think the series will be competitive event. Because they are good side.”
Shanto said, ” We shall focus in every point. We want to play World Cup after taking a good preparation in every side against Zimbabwe.”
He said, ” As a captain I want to win in the series. This is my first target. Besides, we shall play against Zimbabwe as a practice of upcoming World Cup. We shall not do any experiment. The players who are in our 15-member squad, have capacity to play a key role to beat Zimbabwe. We want to play World Cup after taking proper homework against Zimbabwe.”
He also said, ” Usually the wicket of Chattogram will act in favour of batting. So, every side have a chance to make a good score. But I cannot forecast about tomorrow’s match. We shall understand after starting the match. I hope tomorrow’s match will be a high-scoring game.”
Captain of Zimbabwe Cricket team Sikandar Raza said, ” We arrive here with correct mindset and with a good preparation also. We have come Bangladesh for win. If I say we shall win 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, it is dishonour to Bangladesh. On the other hand, if I say Bangladesh will win the series, it will be dishonour to my team.”
Raza said, “The series will be very much competitive. T20 World Cup is knocking at the door. I hope the series will be good for both teams.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava and Sean Williams.
