DHAKA, May 2, 2024 (BSS)-Bangladesh are all set to kick-start its T20 World
Cup preparation formally by taking on Zimbabwe in a five-match series at two
venues across the country.

The series opening game will be held tomorrow (Friday) at Zahur Ahmed
Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The match starts from 6 PM.

The port city will host the second and third game too before the final two
T20 Internationals will be held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Zimbabwe won the last bilateral series between the two sides in this format
by 2-1 at their own country in 2022 but that doesn't necessarily mean that
Bangladesh will be on the back foot, said its captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.

"There is nothing like big team or small team in this format. As you said
Zimbabwe lost the series to Uganda but a few days ago, they beat a strong
team like Sri Lanka. So difference is always subtle in this format," Shanto
said in Chattogram today.

"What matters is to how we approach in this series. Word Cup is knocking at
the door, so the series is a preparation platform for us. What matters is
that how we would prepare ourselves and how we can gain the confidence. I can
say that the series will be immensely competitive because they are very good
team."

Despite losing the last series to the East African nation, Bangladesh are
ahead of the head-to-head battle by winning 13 and losing seven in 20 matches
between the two sides.

Bangladesh will be without its key allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and pacer
Mustafizur Rahman for the first three matches. Shakib who had already
returned to the country from US is playing Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches
to get his match fitness. Mustafizur also returned to country today after
playing IPL for Chennai Super Kings. However, keeping his fatigue issue in
mind, the selectors don't want him to play the first three matches.

"We want to win the series and that's our first goal," Shanto said. "And at
the same time, the preparation for World Cup will be in our mind but that
doesn't mean that we will make huge experiment. There is no need to make any
experiment because the 15 players who were included in this team, are capable
enough to beat this Zimbabwe. I think the series will give us the insights
about our shortcomings and where we should focus to rectify our mistakes."

Despite showing competitive performance against the big teams of late,
Zimbabwe failed to make the cut in T20 World Cup. But they will hope to play
the way they did at home in 2022, when they beat Bangladesh for the first
time in a T20I series. They beat Bangladesh in the ODIs series as well but
are yet to win a white-ball series in Bangladesh since 2001.

 "It would be a great memory to take (series) back home," Zimbabwe captain
Sikandar Raza said. "I cannot predict the future, that I can't do. But we've
come here with the right mindset, and we've come here preparing really well
for the series. We've come here to win as well, and so as Bangladesh."

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim,
Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad
Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain
Emon, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin.

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Biran Bennett, Ryan Burl,
Johnathan Campbell, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande,
Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley
Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava, Sean Williams.