Ban-Zim series schedule finalized

The Bangladesh national cricket team is currently on a tour in the West Indies. The Tigers will not get a chance to catch their breath after this tour – as the red-green team will visit Zimbabwe after the Windies series.

The cricketers will return to Dhaka on July 18 after completing their Caribbean tour. The team does not have a chance to rest for a week. The Tigers will visit Zimbabwe on July 22 to play a series of three ODIs and a T20I match. 

Before the announcement of the schedule, it was learned that the Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka for Zimbabwe on July 22 – which means there is no more than 3 days to rest for the Tigers.

Meanwhile, there is a busy schedule waiting for the Bangladesh team. The fight between the two teams will start with the ODI series. The Tigers will play the only warm-up match on July 25. The first match will be played on July 28, followed by the last two ODIs of the series on July 30 and August 1.

The T20I series will start at the end of the ODI series. The three matches of the T20I series will be played on August 4, 6 and 8. All matches will be held in Harare.

Zimbabwe cricket is currently passing difficult time. Zimbabwe is currently ranked 15th in the ODI rankings while Bangladesh is ranked 7th. However, the difference between the two teams is less in the T20 rankings. Bangladesh’s T20 ranking is 8 and Zimbabwe’s is 12.

Shakib to skip Zimbabwe tour

Bangladesh star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan will be unavailable for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, the all-rounder had already informed it to the BCB.

“I met with the selectors unofficially to discuss the upcoming Zimbabwe tour,” Jalal Yunus, BCB's cricket operations committee chairman, informed on Thursday.

“We will play three ODIs and as many T20I matches during the tour. As the ODI series won't be part of ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, we advised the senior players that they can choose to take a break.

“However, only Shakib [Al Hasan] informed us he will not be available for the [Zimbabwe] trip.”

Yunus also confirmed Shakib's unavailability in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting from July 10 in Guyana.

“As all the players, who are now playing in the West Indies, are available for the Zimbabwe trip, the selectors will now form the squad within a very short time.

“Although there is no issue of Super League points, we still have to win the series and that's why we want to send a full-strength side [to Zimbabwe],” Yunus added further.

Bangladesh would hardly get any break after returning home from the Caribbean tour as the series against Zimbabwe is likely to start with a T20I on July 30. However, Zimbabwe Cricket is yet to officially announce the tour schedule.

Shakib to skip tour