Bangladesh?s tour of Zimbabwe kicks off on February, presenting
to many fans a hope of a victory at last. Before the start of this Bangladesh
will pay a visit to Namibia. This mini-series has many importances. It would
be an opportunity for the team to prepare themselves for the showdown in Zimbabwe.
Here they can get use to the pitches of Africa. Overwhelming victory is essential
for success against Zimbabwe. A loss will badly demoralize the Tigers, as the
Zimbabweans are tougher opponents. This is heightened by their recent success
against the West Indies.
Bangladesh?s worries are already increased as four key players
are away with injuries. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the spearhead of the attack will
be sadly missed by the weak attack of Bangladesh. However Mohammed Rafique
could spin Bangladesh to success as Zimbabwe?s recent success against the West
Indies was manly inspired by their spinner Ray Price.
In batting the absence of Opener Javed Omar adds pressure
to the Batting line up. Who could forget that on his debute he scored back-to-back
half centuries, including one innings in which he carried his bat right through,
remaining not out on 85? Furthermore, he and Habibul Bashar are the two batsmen
the Zimbabweans consider to be the most dangerous. Both these men average over
40 versus Zimbabwe(see table).
Both the Batting and Bowling departments will be undermanned
through the injuries of Alok Kapali, the first Bangladeshi to take a hat trick
and Mushfiqur Rahman, who did so well against England.
Here are Bangladesh?s current test stats against Zimbabwe:
-
Name
|
Matches
|
Innings
|
N.O.
|
Runs
|
H.S.
|
Ave.
|
100
|
50
|
Catches
|
Over
|
Runs
|
Wickets
|
Ave
|
Best
|
5
|
Javed
Omar
|
4
|
8
|
1
|
317
|
85*
|
45.29
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Mehrab
Hossain
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
87
|
71
|
21.75
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Habibul
Bashar
|
4
|
8
|
0
|
413
|
108
|
51.63
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Aminul
Islam
|
4
|
8
|
1
|
149
|
84
|
21.29
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
18
|
68
|
1
|
68
|
1
for 66
|
0
|
Akram
Khan
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
112
|
44
|
18.67
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Naimur
Rahman
|
4
|
7
|
0
|
126
|
36
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
86.1
|
252
|
3
|
84
|
2
for 60
|
0
|
Khaled
Mashud
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
56
|
30
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Mushfiqur
Rahman
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
10
|
4
|
3.333
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
37
|
112
|
0
|
#####
|
0
for 26
|
0
|
Hasibul
Hossain
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
7
|
6
|
3.5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
30
|
125
|
2
|
62.5
|
2
for 125
|
0
|
Mohammad
Sharif
|
3
|
6
|
1
|
35
|
24*
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
92.4
|
374
|
3
|
124.7
|
2
for 144
|
0
|
Manjural
Islam
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
16
|
9
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
104
|
289
|
8
|
36.13
|
6
for 81
|
1
|
Al
Sahariar Rokon
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
157
|
68
|
26.17
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
#####
|
-
|
0
|
Enamul
Haque
|
3
|
5
|
3
|
59
|
24*
|
29.5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
147
|
311
|
8
|
38.88
|
3
for 74
|
0
|
Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Drawn
|
Bangladesh
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
Zimbabwe
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
The One-day summary is also grim. These two have played in
ten ODIs, all of which were won by Zimbabwe.
All these tilt the series in Zimbabwe?s favor. But Bangladesh
must not lose heart. Bangladesh?s fortunes have turned around since Dav Whatmore
took over, scoring 280+ in five of their last seven first innings, taking up
first innings leads and also the narrowest of defeats- losing by only one wicket.
Bangladesh?s highest ODI score was against their African counterparts, a score
of 272-8.
This could be the series that Bangladesh silences their critics,
but it could also hand them further ammunition concerning our Test status.
Bangladesh must maintain the same level of cricket demonstrated against the
likes of Australia and Pakistan.