Tigers face Zim in first ODI

Following their first-ever defeat in a bilateral T20I series against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will begin their ODI mission with the first of the three ODIs at the Harare Sports Club today.

The match is scheduled to begin at 1:15pm (BST) and will be telecast live on T Sports.

The onus will be on the Tamim Iqbal-led side to lift the Tigers' spirits after an inexperienced T20I side surrendered a 2-1 defeat, led by stand-in skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan in the first two T20Is and Mosaddek Hossain in the final game after the former was forced out of the tour with a finger injury.

Experienced campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim is set to return to action today, having missed the West Indies tour last month as he took leave to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

However, with the ODI series not a part of the ODI Super League, in which Bangladesh are just below top-placed England in the points table, the Tigers will have the flexibility to ring in some changes to test their bench strength as suggested by skipper Tamim during their 3-0 ODI series sweep of the West Indies.

Unlike their record in T20Is and Tests, Bangladesh boast a staggering record in their most preferred format. They have won 10 of their last 12 ODIs and the Tigers will certainly want to keep up the winning momentum.

Meanwhile, a new-look Zimbabwe, under the leadership of Regis Chakabva, will be hoping to bounce back in the format after being whitewashed in their last three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home.