In the context of the sport, this would be a very interesting cricketing series to follow, and not only for the reason that these are two sides that don’t really play that often against one another but also for the fact that both sides boast of some amazing talents; some that are as under-appreciated as they are talented.
While on the one hand, Bangladesh feature the likes of Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mithun, Abu Jayed to talk of a few, Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have a group of close-knit and passionate names among their ranks in the form of Craig Ervine, Brendon Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Regis Chakabva, among the others.
Now any hopes that Zimbabwe might have harbored of facing a Bangladesh side minus their star player Mushfiqur Rahim, have been hung out to dry as the experienced wicketkeeping batsman has now made a return to the national side.
Of course, one ought to be reminded that it was Mushfiqur Rahim, who, days before, had opted to sit out of his team’s tour to Pakistan, which was a move that was perhaps as polarising as the debate whether one should exercise the right to vote!
While there were some who saw the gesture as perhaps a bit naive on the part of Mushfiqur Rahim, who, it could be said, prefered to rest with uncertainty regarding touring a country where there had been scares regarding player safety (in the past), there were also many who sided with the experienced right-hander’s call, calling it fair.
But then, at the same time, there are also examples like Kumar Sangakkara, who despite being hurt in the dreaded Sri Lankan tour to Pakistan (in 2009), is today, leading a comprehensive delegation to the very same place where his team landed themselves in a bit of a situation (something that was truly uncalled for).
But, anyway, here’s more on the Mushfiqur Rahim News:
INDIA TV quoted, “Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim returns to the Bangladesh Test squad which will take on Zimbabwe in a one-off match, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Sunday. Batsman Mahmudullah has been excluded while fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who last played a Test match in 2017, has found a place in the 16-man squad.”
In fact, Bangladesh, just days before hosting Zimbabwe have even announced a 16-member Test squad for the series:
Mominul Haque (c), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Yasir Ali.
The two sides actually play one another so rarely, that one can be challenged to recount when was it last that the two featured in an all-format series, that features all three formats of the game.
For now, though, it is important to note that while there would be a 1-off Test between the two, there will be 3 ODIs and 2 T20s.
While the 3 ODIs will be held on March 1, 3, and 6, the T20s will take place on 9 and 11 of the next month.
An important player, Zimbabwe would note, on recent form, will be Sikandar Raza, who was adjudged the man-of-the-match recently for his career-best 7-for against the Sri Lankans just last month, an emphatic feat. On the other hand, bolstered by the return of Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh shall also hope to get lots of runs from one of their batting mainstays in Tamim Iqbal.