Since 2025, Zimbabwe has conducted 10 tests. Five of these were against New Zealand, South Africa and England combined – opposition Zimbabwe last faced in 2016, 2017 and 2003 respectively.
But while Zimbabwe have played plenty of tests over the past year and a half, they are still denied the opportunity to face higher-ranked teams more often and also be part of the WTC. However, Zimbabwe, along with Ireland and Afghanistan, could become part of an expanded World Trade Center cycle starting in 2027. The next cycle may also include one-off tests that these teams typically perform.
Zimbabwe are set to play their sixth one-off Test when they host Bangladesh in Harare on Sunday, for which they have recalled 39-year-old spinner Graham Cramer, who last played a Test in 2017. Zimbabwe will also have a new captain in Richard Ngarawa, who took over from Craig Erwin in December last year.
Ngarawa has experience of leading just four T20 players as he prepares to captain against a confident and rising Bangladesh team. Bangladesh didn’t win any of their seven games in the first WTC cycle in 2019/21, but they have since become one of the more progressive teams. In the 2021/23 season, Bangladesh beat New Zealand at Mount Maunganui; in the 2023-25 โโseason they beat New Zealand in Sylhet, beat Pakistan 2-0 away and beat the West Indies in Kingston. Now, in the 2025/27 season, Bangladesh will tour Zimbabwe after another 2-0 win over Pakistan – this time at home.
Despite familiarity with their opponents, Bangladesh will be wary of Zimbabwe, who defeated them in the Sylhet Test last year. This match away from the World Trade Center will give Zimbabwe another opportunity to prove themselves as worthy opponents.
Zimbabwe: WLLLL (Last five matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: WWWWL
Spotlight on Shanto and Muzarabani
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s improving performance is a big reason for his team’s recent rise. In 66 innings until 2024, Shanteau averaged just 29.06; but since 2025, his batting average is 64.10 per 11 innings. During this period he walked fifty-five times and turned them into a century four times. Shanto played at number four all this time, thereby hinting at stability in the Bangladesh lineup. He now hopes to continue that momentum before he takes Bangladesh to a much tougher assignment in Australia in August. Among the nine Zimbabwe bowlers who have taken at least 50 Test wickets, Blessing Muzarabani has the best average of 26.20. Since his debut in December 2017, he has featured in 18 of Zimbabwe’s 25 Tests and has established himself as one of the team’s most reliable players. And while T20 cricket is a completely different ball game to Tests, Muzarabani will look to carry the confidence of a successful T20 World Cup, the last time Zimbabwe played, into the Bangladesh series. Zimbabwe will be without Sikandar Raza, who has been given permission to play the T20 Blast in England. In his absence, the spin bowling all-rounder’s role could go to either Kremer or left-arm spinner Wesley Madhevere.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Tadivanashe Marumani, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Craig Erwin, 6 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 7 Graham Cramer/Wesley Madhever, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Richard Ngarawa (capt), 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Tanaka Chiwanga
Shadman Islam is likely to return to the XI after missing the second Test against Pakistan. Mahidul Islam should keep wicket in place of the injured Litton Das, while Hasan Mahmood and Khaled Ahmed could replace the rested Nahid Rana and Taskeen Ahmed. Naeem Hasan, who was allegedly assaulted by police two weeks ago, is ready to play and will replace Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is also rested.
Bangladesh: 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mahidul Islam (wk), 7 Naeem Hasan, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain
Harare Sports Club usually offers slow coverage. With only one test played here in the last five years, it may be difficult to determine how the course will develop over the next five days. The weather is expected to be cool and rainless.