Bangladesh are back in Zimbabwe for the first time since 2021. Alongside the one-off Test, the tourists will also play three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour officially gets underway on Sunday with the solitary Test, which Bangladesh see as an important step in their preparation for the upcoming two-match Test series in Australia.
Speaking in a video message released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board from Harare on Saturday, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stressed the importance of building momentum ahead of a busy run of away assignments.
“We want to win the match and play good cricket. We have several away series coming up after this one, so it is important for us to perform well in this series. If our batters and bowlers can do well here, it will help us in the challenges ahead. Our focus is on playing the best cricket we possibly can”, Shanto said.
The squad for the one-off Test does not include several regular faces. Along with the pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has also been rested.
In their place, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud have returned to the squad. Pace-bowling all-rounder Robiul Haque has earned his maiden Test call-up, while uncapped batters Amit Hasan and Towhid Hridoy are also part of the touring party.
The Test squad arrived in Zimbabwe in two phases, meaning the players have had to adapt to Harare’s winter conditions at different times. Shanto, however, believes the team have adjusted well ahead of the match.
“A number of our players arrived here a few days earlier, and Alhamdulillah, we have adapted well to the conditions. I believe we are now fully prepared for the match. Some players joined the squad later, but they have also adjusted considerably during the last few days of training. Hopefully, adapting during the match itself will not be much of a problem,” he said.
