Chance for Tigers to get back to winning ways

"Goriber Ashes", which literally translates to poor man's Ashes, is what many Bangladesh fans have come to call Bangladesh versus Zimbabwe cricket series.

With the one off Test done, the series now moves to the limited overs leg, with three one-day internationals (ODIs) in Sylhet and then three twenty20 internationals (T20Is) in Dhaka.

The series initially was supposed to have five T20Is but then three ODIs got added and two T20Is got taken away with many expecting this to be ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza's swansong from international cricket.

However, recent developments have taken quite an interesting turn and Mashrafe has said that he has no intention to retire soon and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has later told the media that this would be Mashrafe's last series as captain.

Hassan though later on went to backtrack from his initial quote and say that a decision would be made about Mashrafe's captaincy after the board meeting in early March.

With so much happening outside of cricket for Bangladesh, there is an ODI series at stake, and after what has mostly been a disappointing 2019, they will want to get back to winning ways against Zimbabwe.

In 2019, Bangladesh were whitewashed by New Zealand in New Zealand, then went on to win a tri-nation series involving hosts Ireland and West Indies, before failing to qualify for the semis in the World Cup and finishing eighth and finally losing the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

Zimbabwe on the other hand have had a tumultuous time in 2019 themselves, with the International Cricket Council terminating their ICC membership due to government interference to the retirement of fast bowler Kyle Jarvis, who went on a Kolpak deal in England.

They have then went on to get their status back but the cricket has taken a turn for the worse as they lost series against Netherlands in Netherlands (2-0) and then against Ireland in Ireland (3-0).

The only ODI series they won in 2019 was against UAE early in the year and they will also be looking to get back to winning ways.

Team news

From the squad against Sri Lanka last year, Anamul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Rubel Hossain have made way for captain Mashrafe, Saifuddin and Liton. Naim could make his debut, while Bangladesh have Taijul Islam, Al Amin Hossain and Shafiul Islam as bowling options.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal 2 Mohammad Naim, 3 Liton Das, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Mehidy Hasan, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Chamu Chibhabha and Timycen Maruma are the likely new opening pair, though Tinashe Kamunhukamwe could also be in the picture. Zimbabwe also have 19-year-old spin-bowling allrounder Wesley Madhevere fresh out of the Under-19 side.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Chamu Chibhabha (capt), 2 Timycen Maruma, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Tinotenda Mutombodzi, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Ainsley Ndlovu, 10 Chris Mpofu, 11 Carl Mumba

Pitch and conditions

Sylhet typically offers a pitch without much grass and with even bounce. Plenty of runs are available if batsmen give it a bit of time. The weather should be clear.