The Tigers are the only side Zimbabwe have managed to beat since their return to Test Cricket in 2011, and would therefore wish to repeat that against the April 17 to May 8 tourists.
The two sides square up at the Harare Sports Club in Two Tests, on April 17-21 and April 25-29. They will meet again in three One Day Internationals at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club starting May 3.
The last time the two teams met in Zimbabwe, way back in August 2011, the hosts won the one-off Test by 130 runs and clinched the five ODI series 3-2.
Since then, it has been a roller-coaster for Zimbabwe, who recorded losses on all their tours, including whitewashes against New Zealand and the West Indies, having earlier lost to Pakistan, and failed to win a single game at the Twenty20 World Cup last year. The Zimbabwean team even lost to lowly-ranked teams like Ireland in warm-up matches.
Coach Alan Butcher ceded his post to caretaker mentor Stephen Mangongo after the West Indies tour, the latter promising to bring in fresh inspiration, as some of the players in the team failed to live up to expectations.
Mangongo is standing in for the newly-appointed Andy Waller, who will only take up his new job in July, against India. The long-term assistant coach of the side, was straight to the point about the Bangladesh visit: “Some of the players have failed to prove their worth and the next few days will be critical in determining their future in the team,” he said.
With the first Test a week away, the next few days will see Mangongo make a bold decision on whether to trust the new boys he has brought in, like Richmond Mutumbami, Nathan Waller, Brian Chari, Kevin Kusuza, Pakistani-born Sikandar Raza or the likes of Elton Chigumbura, dropped for the West Indies tour but now part of the team called into camp for the Tigers tour.
He has made it no secret that he is an admirer of Kyle Jarvis and that should give the player an advantage over the rest of the pack. He and Captain Brendan Taylor could be guaranteed places in the set up.
But will Mangongo select old guards like Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer and Raymond Price, who have been with the disappointing team for some time?
There are a number of other players for him to choose from, with Charles Coventry and Stuart Matsikenyari returning after missing the West Indies tour, and Chamu Chibhabha, Regis Chakabva, Tino Mawoyo, Edward Rainsford, Netsai M’shangwe, Tawanda Mupariwa, Shingi Masakadza, Tendai Chatara and Keegan Meth in camp.
Youngsters Richard Muzhange, Timycen Maruma and Tino Mutombodzi are also knocking on the selection door.
Batting has been Zimbabwe’s biggest let down in the past few games and a spot-on decision on the part of the coach, especially in the top order, will be the key to Mangongo’s success.
Bangladesh do not have a good record in Zimbabwe, having failed to win a single Test on their previous visits, but they showed remarkable improvement with their recent Test draw against Sri Lanka away in Colombo, followed by a 1-1 draw in the ODI Series.
The Tigers’ captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, has previously stated that the Zimbabwean tour would be a good measure of their performance and that they were ready for the challenge.
There is a general belief that a team that does not win at home is not worth its salt, so Mangongo and his team should use this opportunity to prove that they are worth the Test status they were accorded – after some resistance.
Post published in: Sport