Bangladesh seek rare bilateral T20I series win

Bangladesh have won only one bilateral T20I series in over four years © AFP

"Whitewash." The word makes little sense in the context of this series, not least because it consists of only two matches. And then there's the grand scheme of things, the preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, which means that Bangladesh will look to make the most out of this one T20I instead of obsessing over a series win. Which, admittedly, if it happens, will be a nice thing for Bangladesh's wretched run in the format, and for Mahmudullah, the T20I captain by chance who's still a bit wet behind the ears in this new role.

Mahmudullah spoke about making the team "feel secure and letting them play with freedom" in the lead up to this series and his efforts have manifested in greater clarity in batting from Bangladesh, who as recently as in India and Pakistan looked a bit daft. Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das's batting positions were all over the scorecard but after a bit of cross-format success at home, Liton Das will continue at the top alongside Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar will come one-down, a position where he feels "relaxing."

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, might look at this game as their last chance at redemption. They haven't known wins on this tour. Sean Williams has gone as far as calling his team's all-round skills "poor", so this T20I game in Mirpur provides them an ideal opportunity to bid goodbye. If not that, then this could be the last instalment of grief that comes their way on the slow, low, occasionally flat pitches of the subcontinent. Their back-to-back wins on similar surfaces in 2016 feels like a distant memory.

When: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 6:00pm local

Where: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

What to expect: There hasn't been much dew around in Dhaka, so bowling second shouldn't be "the" challenge to look forward to. Weather wise, it's supposed to be nice and pleasant, with no forecast for rains. Another flat pitch might be in the offing.

Teams:

Bangladesh: There's an outside chance that Tamim Iqbal might be rested. Uncapped Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed might get a look in.

Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah(c), Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Al-Amin Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud

Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva, Charlton Tshuma, Chamu Chibhabha, Timycen Maruma and Ainsley Ndlovu didn't feature in the first T20I, and some of them could get a chance in the dead rubber.

Squad: Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Regis Chakabva, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor(w), Sean Williams(c), Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Richmond Mutumbami, Donald Tiripano, Charlton Tshuma, Carl Mumba, Chris Mpofu, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Chamu Chibhabha, Timycen Maruma, Ainsley Ndlovu

What they said:

When I bat up the order, it feels relaxing. Things didn't go well for me down the order. I batted at number three after a long time and was trying to cement my place, which was playing at the back of my head - Soumya Sarkar.