Bangladesh-Zimbabwe series begins today
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are geared up for what their coaches have described as the potential battle of spinners, which begins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
The first match of the five-match one-day international series will begin at 9:00am and will be aired live on Bangladesh Television.
Both the teams expect spinners will play a decisive role, which has been the case in the series held between the two sides over five years.
Bangladesh named three left-arm spinners in their starting line-up with Sakib al Hasan and Abdur Razzak leading the attack for them.
Sohrawardi Shuvo has been given the nod ahead of off-spinner Naeem Islam in view of only one left-hander in Zimbabwe line-up.
Shuvo, who played in all but one game against New Zealand in October and also played a key part for the Asian Games gold medal winners, will make his debut against the familiar foes with the game.
This will be for the first time in many days Bangladesh will play a game with their full-strength side as Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and Mashrafee bin Murtaza have returned to the starting line-up.
Despite their presence, coach Jamie Siddons pinned hopes on spinners, who made the difference between two of the light-heavyweights of world cricket in recent series.
‘We are going to stick to our strength and our strength is spin bowling,’ Siddons told reporters at the SBNS ahead of the game on Tuesday.
‘I think the fact that we have got more left-arm orthodox and they have got a lot of right hander will help us a lot,’ said Siddons.
Siddons, however, said Zimbabwe are no different than Bangladesh and have few spinners who can turn the game around.
‘They [too] have got very good spin bowlers and it will be the battle of the spinners,’ Siddons said.
Zimbabwe came to Bangladesh with all three of their regular spinners Raymond Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer and their coach Allan Butcher has indicated that all of them can play.
Zimbabwe may go with the fourth spinner provided Keith Dabengwa, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, if only he can recover from flu that he contracted on his arrival.
The choice is between Dabenwaga and pace bowler Kegan Meth, who impressed in their defeated warm-up game with 4-46 and a quickfire 25 runs.
The series opener is crucial for Bangladesh as they lost to Zimbabwe in the first game of the previous two series as well as the opening game of a tri-series tournament in 2009.
‘Zimbabwe came here full of bubble and full of confidence and they are also ready to win the series. We have to knock them in the first game and then push them down further,’ Siddons said.
Zimbabwe coach Allan Butcher is also aware of the significance of the opening game.
‘The first match is always important because if you get with a good start, you then feel confident. However, we are also mindful of the fact of the last time we were here, we won the first match and didn’t go on to win any more. So, you will have to play well for five matches to win the series,’ he said.
Bangladesh line up: Sakib al Hasan (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaed Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Abdur Razzak and Shafiul Islam
