Bangladesh must guard against complacency in ODI series against Zimbabwe: Chandika Hathurusinghe

Bangladesh must guard against complacency in ODI series against Zimbabwe: Chandika Hathurusinghe

Dhaka: Bangladesh will be on guard against complacency when they face a struggling Zimbabwe in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series which starts in Dhaka on Saturday, said the team’s coach. The hosts have not lost a home series to Zimbabwe since 2001 and routed the minnows 5-0 last year to spark a remarkable winning streak. This year, Bangladesh reached the World Cup quarter-final Down Under and recorded back-to-back one-day series wins at home against Pakistan, India and South Africa. It lifted Bangladesh to seventh in the official rankings and guaranteed them a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017. READ: Inzamam ul Haq to coach Afghanistan till 2017

Bangladesh’s Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusinghe declined to take another victory for granted, saying “there was no reason for complacency” in his team. Zimbabwe come fresh from a humiliating loss at home to Afghanistan, who won the one-dayers 3-2 and clinched both Twenty20 internationals. READ: Afghanistan dedicate T20I series win vs Zimbabwe to earthquake victims

“The most important thing for us is to pick ourselves up and focus on Bangladesh,” Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said. Bangladesh’s ODIcaptain Mashrafe Mortaza remains doubtful for the first match since he is yet to regain full fitness after suffering from dengue fever. READ: The rise and rise of Afghanistan cricket

Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar was also ruled out of the match with a side strain and was replaced by Imrul Kayes. Zimbabwe are also due to play two Twenty20 internationals on the limited-overs tour. READ: Soumya Sarkar ruled out of Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 2015 series owing to injury