New-look Bangladesh to field first in T20I series opener

Bangladesh were sent in to field first by hosts Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the three-match series in Harare today.

Nurul Hasan Sohan makes his debut as Bangladesh captain. With seniors missing from the side, the onus will be on youngsters to lift the Tigers' spirits up in the format, in which they have only won one in their last 12 outings.

The two captains -- Nurul Hasan Sohan and Craig Ervine -- pose with the T20I series trophy before match today. Photo: BCB

In fact, this is going to be only the second T20I that Bangladesh will play without any of the four stalwarts. The only time that the Tigers played a T20I without any one of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal was during their 65-run loss to New Zealand in Auckland in April 2021.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, having won comprehensively against the Netherlands in the final of the T20 World Cup qualification round to book their spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016, will be eager to make a statement.  

Starting XI:

Bangladesh: Munim Shahriar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan (Captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva, Craig Ervine (C), Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga