The big picture: Zimbabwe looks forward to continued success
This is an exciting time for Zimbabwe in men’s international cricket. Historic victories over Australia and Sri Lanka in the 2026 T20 World Cup to qualify for the Super Eight were followed by a decisive blow to Bangladesh in the only Test and then in the ODI series. Now, in the T20Is, Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe in a three-match series against a depleted Bangladesh team and will want to start strong, making good use of their home side again. conditions.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh lost 3-0 at home to Australia in their last T20I match and will go into this series knowing that they have been beaten in other formats this tour.
Bangladesh are without Lytton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskeen Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, who have been given NOCs for the Lanka Premier League, and adding to their worries, their fast bowling pivot Mustafizur Rahman has also been ruled out of the tour as he suffered a grade 1 muscle tear in his right hamstring and meniscus degeneration in his right during the ODI series knee
The visitors face a tough task against a high-quality Zimbabwe team in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe LLLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLLLV
Spotlight: Brian Bennett and Nahid Rana
Brian Bennett made a half-century in the Test against Bangladesh but suffered a string of low scores in the ODIs. However, he will enter the T20Is having scored half-centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup, as well as an unbeaten knock of 97 in the defeat of India. Bennett has been touted as one of Zimbabwe’s next big batsmen for some time now and they hope he can continue his amazing form in this format. Nahid Rana will become even more important for Bangladesh. He was the leading wicket-taker in ODIs with seven wickets and his high pace will make him difficult to counter in favorable conditions in Bulawayo. Rana has played only three T20Is so far and taken three wickets, although it has been costly, but this series could be a good opportunity for him to improve on those figures. Ben Curran, who was called up as an injury replacement to the Zimbabwe squad during the T20 World Cup, could be in line to make his T20I debut. Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarawa and Brad Evans are likely to be in charge of the pace attack, with Raza leading the spin department.
Zimbabwe (likely): 1 Ben Curran, 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Tadivanashe Marumani (week), 4 Sikandar Raza (captain), 5 Ryan Burle, 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Clive Madande, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Richard Ngarawa, 11 Blessing Muzarabani
In the absence of permanent captain Lytton, Bangladesh will be led by Tohid Hridoy. Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain is likely to start as Bangladesh’s third seamer alongside Rana and Shoriful Islam, while Mosaddek Hossain could slot into the middle order for his first T20I appearance since 2022.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hasan, 3 Parvez Hossain Emon, 4 Tohid Hridoy (capt), 5 Nurul Hasan (wk), 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Rishad Hossain, 8 Nasum Ahmed, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain, 11 Nahid Rana.
The pitch in Bulawayo is expected to be low and slow. There is no threat of rain.