Big picture: open area for both teams
The experiment with an inexperienced Test team against a lower-ranked Zimbabwe team could not have gone worse for Bangladesh. While the margin of defeat – an innings and 85 runs – was devastating in itself, the ineffectiveness of their pacers in favorable Harare conditions made it all the more worrying for a team that is undergoing a fast bowling revolution.
Hasan Mahmood, Khaled Ahmed and Abadot Hossain totaled 2 for 266 from 67 overs in the Test, while Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarawa, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri and Brad Evans made 20 for 308. The absence of players like Taskin Ahmed, Naheed Rana and Shoriful Islam is no excuse for such a big gap. Both teams now shift their focus to 50-over cricket, with Bangladesh’s top players returning in contention for a three-match series that could prove invaluable given that it will be played in the backdrop of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Zimbabwe played their last ODI in August 2025. They have a new captain in Ngarawa who will have to think through combinations and strategies over the next 15 months keeping the ICC tournament in mind. Near-term and mid-term challenges will make themselves felt. Zimbabwe were unable to take part in the 2023 ODI World Cup due to failure to qualify at home. Many of the players from that time are still here. For Craig Erwin and Sikandar Raza, both 40, this could be their last hurray.
Zimbabwe LLWLW (Last five matches, starting with latest)
Bangladesh LWWWW
Spotlight: Captains, stand up
Before and at the end of the Test, Richard Ngarawa stressed that Zimbabwe knew the home conditions better and that showed during the game, highlighting the prospect of the 28-year-old joining the rare group of cricketers who are astute fast-bowling captains. Ngarawa knows what to do when tossing in such conditions, like setting the tone with the ball and using his bowlers at different stages. Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s ability to improve his individual performances and lift the team’s spirits when they are under pressure makes him special. He can save or add to the score with the bat and can also contain or hit the ball. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh achieved four ODI series victories, the last two of which were against New Zealand and Australia.
Team News: The big guns are returning to Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s top bowling attack returns after Mehidy, Taskin, Nahid and Shoriful were rested from the Test. Litton Das is recovering from a calf injury and is likely to return for the second ODI.
Bangladesh (probably): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hasan/Soumya Sarkar, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Tohid Hridoy, 5 Nurul Hasan (wk), 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Nahid Rana
Innocent Kaya returned to the ODI team after scoring 140 runs in the Test. This may not be enough to force him back to the top of the order. The same goes for Ryan Berle in the middle. Zimbabwe might be tempted to select him if they feel the need for an extra player.
Zimbabwe (probably): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran/Innocent Kaya, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Craig Erwin, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Ryan Burle/Tadivanashe Marumani, 7 Clive Madande (wk), 8 Brad Evans, 9 Richard Ngarawa (capt), 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Ernest Masuku
Field and Conditions: Win the toss and bowl.
The Pacers will likely find help early in the morning in Harare. The average number of teams batting first over the last five games is 272. The team batting second has won three of those games. The weather is expected to be cooler with a maximum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and no rain expected.
“Last year he put his head down and took the vaccine. We talked a lot in the system about how we want the guys to score big hundreds. There was a real desire within the system to encourage that and let them know that this is what we’re looking for. He took all the feedback and criticism on board and he was incredible.”
Zimbabwe Head Coach Justin Sammons about the transformation of Innocent Kaya