Zimbabwe are keen to resist the downhill spiral when they take on Bangladesh in the four-match Twenty20 series, starting today at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna.
The Southern African Nation came off a crushing ODI (2-3) and T20 (0-2) series loss to ICC associate Afghanistan but still hope for the best because of the inclusion of some key players who were rested in the series in UAE.
“We had a bad series in UAE. We had couple of new guys in the team. This is a big series for us to make sure we bounce back from the UAE,” Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said.
“We just have to make sure we take it one game at a time and make sure we play good cricket, especially with the bat. We were disappointing with our batting in the last series.”
The likes of Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams will add strength to the hapless team, believed Chigumbura.
 “It is big. They are experienced, played here before. Good to have their contribution in this tour. Hamilton is showing good signs since coming back. The other guys like Vitori will be looking to try to raise his game to stay in the team. Sibanda is also there. They are hungry to stay in the team. It is a good combination of guys with different motivations. It will be good for the team.”
Bangladesh ooze with confidence after going through a blockbuster year and their New Year resolution is to keep up the consistency. The two teams might start the series from different position but there is similarity in one thing: both of the team wants to fix a proper combination ahead of the World T20.
 “We need to try different combination which we think will work at the World T20. So at the moment we have 16 guys here instead of 15. In the next four games you won’t be shocked to see different guys batting in different batting positions. May be one guy playing first two games and resting the other two. It is going to be mainly for preparation for the World T20. At the same time we have to play good cricket.”
Bangladesh though often found them in vulnerable position in T20 cricket, Chigumbura believed they would have to raise their game to beat Bangladesh at their home den.
“We just have to make sure we give our best. We don’t have to forget our processes. We have to play our own game and polish where we went wrong in the past and hopefully have a good game.
However Zimbabwe players are not unfamiliar with this condition. They had toured their just three months ago but most importantly some of their players have been playing in Bangladesh domestic cricket regularly. To Chigumbura it’s an advantage and he wants to use it to maximum.
The Zimbabwe captain made it clear that he would bat up at the order as he thought this is the position which suits him much.
“I would love to come up top and have more time in the crease. In the last series, I came in a bit early in the ODIs, so you might see me up the order so I get more time to play my natural game.”