Published: Nov 15, 2015, 07:49 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 15, 2015, 11:13 AM (IST)
As Bangladesh take on Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 international (T20I) at Dhaka, the expectations will be for the home side to give the weak Zimbabwe side a sound thrashing. There is adequate reasoning for that expectation. While both teams were classed together as the less competent sides of the lot of full members upto two years ago, their routes of progress have diverged vastly ever since. Bangladesh has uncovered a new crop of young talents who have taken their country to unprecedented heights in the Cricket world. Live Cricket Scorecard: Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T2oI at Dhaka
Their exploits include knocking England out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and beating teams like South Africa, India, Pakistan and New Zealand in bilateral home series at home. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have continued to plunge down a downward spiral and their increasing incompetence received the ultimate stamp when were beaten at home by Afghanistan in a home series in T20Is as well as ODIs. ALSO READ:Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 2015: Mashrafe Mortaza unhappy with batsmen after 1st T20I
Zimbabwe’s dry spell showed no signs of relenting during the ODI series against Bangladesh. They put up something of a fight in the first T20I but yet ended up on the losing side. Their fortunes came on the brink of mild overturn solely because of a gutsy knock by opening batsman Waller. But to beat Bangladesh at home, Zimbabwe will need more than good individual knocks.
The team has to perform collectivetheis yet some hope for Zimbabwe to salvage some pride by winning the final game in the series and close the tour with some positives to take on the way back home. Graeme Cremer produced an encouraging performance taking three wickets in his four overs while conceding just 28 runs. Zimbabwe have talent in both departments to build around strong individual performances.
For Bangladesh the biggest strength is their ability to chip in as a unit. It is that very trait which took them over the line in a close situation during the first encounter. The odds are heavily stacked in favour of the home side but if Zimbabwe show some grit the audiences could be in for a little surprise.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Litton Das, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Arafat Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Jubair Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha, Regis Chakabva (wk), Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura (c), Malcolm Waller, Sikandar Raza, Luke Jongwe, Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Panyangara, Taurai Muzarabani, Tendai Chisoro, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu.
Time: 17:00 local | 11:00 GMT | 16:30 IST
(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RDcric on Twitter)
