Zimbabwe aim to fare better than the past series in Bangladesh by taking the confidence of the comfortable victory over BCB XI into the first ODI today.
The Southern African nation’ performance in Asia had been nothing to brag about. Last time they met Bangladesh, they were whitewashed in all formats of the cricket and never sealed a series here since 2001.
The main challenge for them to neutrilise the Bangladeshi spinners who tore apart them last time. Bangladesh pace strength however was increased to great amount after the revelation of Mustafizur Rahman.
“I thought the guys played well. It is a warm-up game so we had to give everyone a chance in terms of bowling. The batters showed good composure. They played with freedom. It is something to look forward to this series,” Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said.
 “We are a different team again. The guys are good players of spin. I know the ground in which we are playing assists seamers. We are not focusing on one department, but all the things that we will face whether spin or seam. We have to make sure guys are ready for whatever they are going to receive,” the skipper, who played 191 one day and scored 3,988, averaging 26.06 with the best of 117, thought.
The 29-year-old lad said that they are yet to see the surface but they will field their best playing XI assessing the wicket.
“Any bowler is an attacking option in our team. We have to assess the wicket whether spinners or seamers will take wickets. I haven’t seen the wicket yet. It might be assisting seamers more than spinners. I am sure it comes to our bowlers to have realised quickly that they each have to play a big role and that’s our plan,” the all-rounder said.
“Obviously, the best thing for someone who is coming here is to make sure they play their own game. Guys must go out there to express themselves and played a natural game, which will enable us to win the game,” he added.
About himself, Chigumbura said, “I’m accustomed to coming in to finish the game, also to put up a respectable score. It’s part of my job to make use of it. I have to use my experience to play the best cricket I can to put the team in a good position.”
“He is a good bowler. At the end of the day, it is about the day. On the day he might be struggling. We just have to make sure we play our best cricket on the day. We don’t underestimate him as a bowler. We have to execute well,” the Zimbabwean said about new pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman.
“Those guys played a big part in Zimbabwe cricket. It’s unfortunate that they’re not with us in this tour. At the same time, it’s a positive for the guys who are here to replace them. The guys here are best to replace them,” the skipper told in response to a query about Hamilton Masakadza and Brendon Taylor.