Tigers eyeing victory in opening Test against Zimbabwe

Dhaka, 19 April- Bangladesh refused to think of anything but a 
victory as they gear up to face off Zimbabwe in the two-match series opening 
Test, starting tomorrow (Sunday) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The match, which starts at 10 am, will be aired live on state-run Bangladesh 
Television (BTV).

Dubbed as absolute favourite given their track record against Zimbabwe, 
Bangladesh would play the longer version format of cricket after a four-month 
gap.

They, however, came into the Test series, after playing Dhaka Premier League 
(DPL), a 50-over format of cricket but that won't make switching gear to Test 
format tougher one, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto insisted.

"As a captain, what I think is that we play to win every match," Shanto said 
during a pre-match conference at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

"None of us have any desire to play selfish cricket. As I said, we will try 
something new and it will also start tomorrow. The kind of mentality and 
preparation that is required for that, the cricketers are taking it."

Overall the two teams have met 18 times in Test format with Bangladesh 
winning eight and losing seven. The rest of the three Tests ended in a draw.

The current tour marked Zimbabwe's sixth visit in Bangladesh following 2001, 
2005, 2014, 2018 and 2020. They had played 10 Tests on Bangladesh's backyard, 
winning just two.

The last time when the two nations squared off in Bangladesh in February 
2020, the hosts emerged victorious with an innings and 106-run win in Mirpur, 
with Mushfiqur Rahim smashing an unbeaten double hundred.

The series is not part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. But a 
victory will give Bangladesh an ideal platform for its first WTC series in 
June against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh finished seventh out of nine in the last cycle, winning four of 12 
matches, including an historic 2-0 sweep on Pakistan soil.

Zimbabwe have not won a Test anywhere since March 2021. They lost their last 
Test, a one-off against Ireland in February, by 63 runs in Bulawayo.
But still Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine sensed a chance against Bangladesh in 
the first Test.

"I understand we haven't had a great run in Test cricket. I think this is the 
first year in which we have a lot of Test cricket lined up for us," Ervine 
said in Sylhet today. 

"We don't have a lot of experience in Bangladesh but I think the young group 
needs to play in different conditions to mature as cricketers. It is good 
that they will get this type of exposure," he added.

"There was always rivalry between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. It is slightly 
tougher for Zimbabwe playing in Bangladesh but we always feel that we have a 
chance (against Bangladesh). This group of players can pose a decent threat."

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman 
Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam Ankon, 
Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice Captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem 
Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib

Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, 
Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, 
Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa 
Tsiga, Nicholas Welch and Sean Williams.BSS