CHITTAGONG: Buoyed by 3-0 Test series whitewash, Bangladesh start as clear favourites as they meet Zimbabwe in the first One-day International of a five-match series here on Friday.

Bangladesh will be keen to carry their winning momentum going during the course of the upcoming series as they prepare to identify the players they want to have at next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Mashrafe Mortaza will return to Bangladesh colours and would take the captaincy from Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim. This would also be the comeback series for Shakib Al Hasan, who first played in the Test series after coming out of the ban imposed by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The Zimbabweans would be low on morale as they also lost a one-day tour game against a BCB XI at Chittagong on Wednesday. The bridging match between the Test series and ODIs saw Zimbabwe middle-order crashing in chase of 283 posted by BCB XI.

But Zimbabwe should take note of the fact that Bangladesh have lost their last five ODIs and lost nine out of 10 matches played this year on their home soil. The Zimbabwe tour has eroded all the poor records and rusty performances put up by Bangladesh players this year.

The Test series saw Bangladesh players piling up opening partnership records, five-fors and inspiring overall performances.

The five-match ODI series will be an opportunity to better the records. Bangladesh have included 19-year-old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain in their line-up owing to his five-wicket Test haul at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium last week.

After the inspirational win against Australia in their den after 31 years during the tri-series in September, Zimbabwe have failed to carry on with the same confidence.

And although, they played well in patches during the Test series but were far way from being a better side. Apart from the Test series, they have also been crunched in the two tour matches against BCB XI.

Like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe will also swap their skipper for the ODI series. Elton Chigumbura will take the responsibilities from Brendan Taylor. Zimbabwe have brought in some fresh faces like Solomon Mire and Peter Moor, who could be played if the need arises.

At the top of the batting line-up, Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza form an integral pair and have the responsibility to give the team a good start. While, Chigumbura and will have a duty to perform with both bat and ball.

Both teams will take to field with a lot of achieve but Bangladesh will still hold an edge over Zimbabwe.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Imrul Kayes, Jubair Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal.

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Malcolm Waller, Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Tawanda Mupariwa, Brian Vitori.

Umpires: Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh) and Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV umpire: Anisur Rahman (Bangladesh).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014