Bangladesh will look to put their recent Test disappointment behind them when they face Zimbabwe in the opening match of the ODI tri-series in the United Arab Emirates today.
The match at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will offer Bangladesh a chance to make a fresh start in white-ball cricket after their drawn Test against Afghanistan earlier this month. Bangladesh had also lost a one-off Test and an ODI series by 2-1 earlier this year.
This time, Litton Das will lead Bangladesh in the tournament, which also features Afghanistan. The Tigers will hope to build momentum ahead of their upcoming international assignments, including the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will look to challenge Bangladesh and make a strong start to their own campaign.
The African side have struggled in ODI cricket recently. They lost their three-match series against Pakistan 3-0 last month and also suffered a heavy defeat against the same opponents in the final of a tri-series.
However, Zimbabwe have shown signs of improvement and will hope to put those results behind them. Their recent performances have also suggested that they can compete with stronger opponents.
Sikandar Raza will be one of Zimbabwe’s key players, while Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor will bring experience to their batting lineup.
Brian Bennett, Ben Curran and Newman Nyamhuri are also expected to play important roles. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava will lead their pace attack.
Bangladesh have enjoyed success in ODI cricket this year, but they will need to adjust quickly to the conditions in the UAE. The pitches could offer assistance to slower bowlers, making partnerships and careful batting important.
Recent ODI matches in Abu Dhabi suggest that batting first could be an advantage. Teams setting a target have won four of the last five ODIs at the venue, with an average first innings total of 266.
The surfaces have generally played slowly in day and night matches, while the heat and humidity could also test the players. Both teams will need to manage these conditions carefully, particularly during the longer spells in the field.
Litton will have a key role with the bat, while Bangladesh will also rely on the experience of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the attacking ability of Towhid Hridoy.
Bangladesh have also added mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam to their ODI squad. His inclusion offers the team another spin option alongside Miraz, Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam.
The pace attack includes Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam.
However, Mustafizur’s place in the starting XI remains uncertain following his disappointing performance at the recent Asian Games. The left-arm pacer could face the unusual prospect of being left out of Bangladesh’s ODI lineup. If the team management decides against selecting him, it would mark the first time in his career that he has been dropped from the ODI side.
Bangladesh have lost their last two ODI series against Zimbabwe, losing by 2-1 on both occasions in 2022 and 2026. Zimbabwe would like to repeat their recent success.
The two teams will also be aware of the importance of starting well in a short tournament, where one poor result can put a team under pressure.
Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in Sharjah on October 21, while Zimbabwe will meet Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on October 19. The final will take place on October 23.
