An out-of-sorts Bangladesh side would be keen to end their disastrous tour of Zimbabwe with their heads held high as they take on the hosts in the first game of the two-match
Twenty20 international series at Bulawayo today.
The tour has so far been a disappointing one for the Tigers from every aspect as they lost their way in the three-match ODI series despite prevailing in the opening one-day international which severely hampered their confidence.
The sudden resignation of skipper Mushfiqur Rahim from the captaincy post in the aftermath of the ODI series indicates the gravity of crisis existing around the team in Zimbabwe and only a positive outcome in the T20 series will allow them to come out of it.
A change of fortunes in the T20 series will certainly provide an opportunity for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to request the outgoing Mushfiq to reconsider his assessment as they were shell-shocked by his decision.
Mushfiq decided to step down after indicating that he failed to lead the side after lacking co-operation from senior teammates which hindered the team-work a great deal.
A win, therefore, is of paramount importance to the visitors in order to start their T20 campaign on a high note and a change in format is encouraging them to hope for the best.
‘It was very disappointing to lose the one-day series after winning the second Test pretty convincingly, but we didn’t play to our potential,’ said Mushfiqur.
‘But T20 is a different format, so it’s an opportunity for us to play good cricket,’ he added.
Team manager Tanjeeb Ahsan added that currently the dressing room was fine with the decision as Mushfiq decided not to speak with anyone regarding the resignation.
‘Mushfiq decided not to talk about his resignation with anyone as he is totally occupied with his preparations for the T20 series,’ Tanjeeb told New Age on their way to practice on Friday.
‘There is nothing to worry about as everyone is relaxed and eyeing to make some sort of contribution,’ he added.
Bangladesh can draw inspiration from the past as they have played only a single T20 international against Zimbabwe which they had convincingly won by 43 runs at Khulna in 2006.
The fact that Zimbabwe is winless in their last 16 T20 internationals can also help to increase the confidence level of the Tigers against the hosts in the shortest format, more so for Mushfiq who scripted a match-winning knock against West Indies in his first game as captain during the lone Twenty20 match at home two years ago.
The team management will pick the playing eleven after scrutinising the condition of the pitch.
-With New Age input
