Bangladesh face Zimbabwe in first ODI today

Bangladesh are on guard against complacency on the eve of taking on Zimbabwe today in the first of three-match ODI series, expected to sweep by the hosts. The day-night match starts at 1 pm. The hosts have won four straight ODI series at home, including over Pakistan, India and South Africa. The run began with a five-match whitewash of Zimbabwe last December, and also includes reaching the quarterfinals of the Cricket World Cup for the first time.
Zimbabwe are coming into this series following a rather dismal home defeat by Afghanistan. The visitors had toured Pakistan earlier this year and their performance in Asia had been nothing to brag about. The hosts go into the series as an absolute favourite, given its recent form at its home den. But still there is discomfort after Zimbabwe’s comfortable seven-wicket victory over BCB XI, a team formed with several national players including captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. “Everyone is expecting a whitewash obviously (against Zimbabwe),” said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. “But it won’t be right to talk about this amongst our players.” The win-loss ratio of 36-28 in Bangladesh’s favour also indicated its domination against Zimbabwe over the years. Mashrafe said that Zimbabwe's seven-wicket win over a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI on Thursday, when Zimbabwe chased down 277 with 20 balls to spare, was enough of a warning for the national team. “I am concerned that we lost the match yesterday,” Mashrafe, who played, said. “The way they chased 280, they batted very well, so there is no scope to take them lightly." The first match will be key to setting up the series, he added. Mashrafe was run out for 1 and took no wickets in seven overs in the warm-up match. He said he was still recovering from dengue fever, and hoped to play in the first ODI.

Bangladesh face Zimbabwe in first ODI today

Bangladesh are on guard against complacency on the eve of taking on Zimbabwe today in the first of three-match ODI series, expected to sweep by the hosts. The day-night match starts at 1 pm. The hosts have won four straight ODI series at home, including over Pakistan, India and South Africa. The run began with a five-match whitewash of Zimbabwe last December, and also includes reaching the quarterfinals of the Cricket World Cup for the first time. Zimbabwe are coming into this series following a rather dismal home defeat by Afghanistan. The visitors had toured Pakistan earlier this year and their performance in Asia had been nothing to brag about. The hosts go into the series as an absolute favourite, given its recent form at its home den. But still there is discomfort after Zimbabwes comfortable seven-wicket victory over BCB XI, a team formed with several national players including captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Everyone is expecting a whitewash obviously (against Zimbabwe), said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. But it wont be right to talk about this amongst our players. The win-loss ratio of 36-28 in Bangladeshs favour also indicated its domination against Zimbabwe over the years. Mashrafe said that Zimbabwes seven-wicket win over a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI on Thursday, when Zimbabwe chased down 277 with 20 balls to spare, was enough of a warning for the national team. I am concerned that we lost the match yesterday, Mashrafe, who played, said. The way they chased 280, they batted very well, so there is no scope to take them lightly. The first match will be key to setting up the series, he added. Mashrafe was run out for 1 and took no wickets in seven overs in the warm-up match. He said he was still recovering from dengue fever, and hoped to play in the first ODI.