Zimbabwe arrive in Dhaka
The Zimbabwe cricket team arrived in Dhaka yesterday hoping for some competitive cricket against the in-form Tigers during their five-match one-day international series.
Despite Bangladesh’s recent 4-0 drubbing of New Zealand on home soil, Zimbabwe’s leading batsman Hamilton Masakadza believes the Africans have a better side than the Kiwis and would play good cricket in these conditions.
“Definitely Bangladesh is a difficult opposition at home but still we are looking for a very competitive series. I think it would be a bit different series than the one against the Kiwis as we have had the experience to play in Bangladesh quite often. And I think we are better prepared than the Kiwis,” said Masakadza while talking to reporters at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He also said that it’s an added advantage for their side that a number of players are very experienced to play in this kind of conditions.
“We have been here a few times and we know what the conditions are and how the wickets behave. We are also aware about the dew factor and that’s why we are looking forward to the series,” opined Masakadza.
“Even in the past we played quite competitively and the games were very close on a number of occasions so I can tell you again it will be a very competitive series,” he added.
Strength wise he also didn’t find any difference between the two teams as both rely on the spin bowlers.
“I don’t think there is too much difference between the teams in terms of strength because both teams depends on their spin bowlers and both teams have
a few guys who can strike the ball hard up in the order,” observed Masakadza.
Masakadza also said that there was no shortage of confidence after his side’s recent impressive performance against South Africa and in the domestic T20 competition.
“The guys played very well against South Africa especially the batters were very good and the guys also performed in T20 cricket. They are full of confidence in the team,” he said.
He was also confident that his side could accustom themselves with the conditions before the first one-dayer to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on December 1.
Zimbabwe will play a limited-over warm-up match against BCB XI on November 29 at BKSP.
“The condition is definitely different but it’s just a matter of adjusting and we have a few days in hand to practice before we start the series proper. We are hopeful that the boys will take the opportunity to get adjusted to the conditions,” hoped Masakadza.
“I think the main thing is to prepare for the World Cup as the guys will be returning to the subcontinent to play (the World Cup) and obviously they will try for a series win,” he added.
The second (December 3) and third one-dayers (December 6), which will be day-nighters, will also be held at Mirpur and after that the teams will travel to Chittagong to play the remaining two games scheduled for December 10 and 12 at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
