Zimbabwe in Bangladesh (Oct 09 - Nov 09)

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe go head to head against each other once again in a 5 match series, this time in Bangladesh.

The last time these two sides met we saw Coventry making a new world record score but BAN still came up on top and eventually won the series 4-1.

This might not be a series worth following for many, but going by the progress of both these teams, I think they surely cause some upsets come WC 2011.

List of Fixtures:

Fri Oct 23 10:30 local | 03:30 GMT 09:00 IST	BCB XI v Zimbabweans Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah
Sun Oct 25 10:00 local | 03:00 GMT 08:30 IST	Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v Zimbabweans Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah
Tue Oct 27           14:30 local | 07:30 GMT 13:00 IST	1st ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Thu Oct 29           14:30 local | 07:30 GMT 13:00 IST	2nd ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sat Oct 31           14:30 local | 07:30 GMT 13:00 IST	3rd ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Tue Nov 3 10:30 local | 03:30 GMT 09:00 IST	4th ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Thu Nov 5 10:30 local | 03:30 GMT 09:00 IST	5th ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

In an already concluded warm up game BCB XI defeated ZIM by 4 wickets.

Tatenda Taibu is making a comeback for ZIM in this series.

They won't Milks but the signs are good. The return of Brendon Taylor and Tatenda Taibu means that things are improving in ZIM cricket. They have some good talented batsmen in their ranks and some spinners in Price, Utseya and Cremer but their pace bowling is very poor. I don't know how good is that new guy Kyle Jarvis. If Sean Ervine and Andy Blignaut can come back, ZIM will be a very decent side.

Similarly if you look at BAN, they are getting better and have some very fine upcoming youngsters in their ranks, they'll trouble the top nations more often now.

Bangladesh is gonna be a good team soon, in ODI's at least.  Shakib, Razzaq, Mortaza, Madmullah is a good bowling attack right there.  Batters really need to step up on being mentally stronger.  Isn't Aftab Ahmed available to play?  Where is he?

BCB is keen not to pick the ICL players I believe, just to send a message to all the younger players which in one way is good. They are persisting with all those loyal players who stayed with the BCB while so many others like Nafees, Kapali and Aftab left them high and dry.

Those three (Aftab, Kapali and Nafees) are automatic selections into the side otherwise and will make BAN look a lot better.

I'm pretty sure that the ICL players won't be allowed to play for a year or so after they returned anyway, so we won't see them until next year at the earliest.

EDIT: A bit of hunting, and apart from Habibul Bashar, I'm not sure any other Bangladeshis actually tore up their contracts.


Edited by -JP- - 25 October 2009 at 6:56pm

ZIM beat BAN first up! Terrific all round performance by Elton Chigumbura... A very fine all rounder that guy... Kyle Jarvis seems to be a good young find too, so far he has been very impressive. well done ZIM, they have proved that this will be no easy going for BAN.

It gives me such pleasure to see Zim winning - I hope they find some quickies as Milks pointed and they will be a force soon.

Shakib showing his class here - he's a top player, I like how he hits the ball hard!  He's not the #1 ODI all rounder for nothing.

Originally posted by milkman I still think Razzak chucks and his test numbers, like most finger spinners, are poor. Shakib's numbers have been inflated by the fact that he's played something like 10 or more ODIs against Zim and a depleted WI just this year. I'd like to see how he fairs against other, stronger sides before looking at those ICC rankings and saying he's no.1.

Truth.
However,I can't wait to actually see him in action live.(That will mean waiting till Bang faces Aus again though.)

Done a bit of research. Apparently Alistair Campbell, the new Zim coach, Blignaut might start playing in the new , more competitive 5 team Zimbabwe franchise cricket league. He hasn't played much cricket at all in the last 3 years after not having success in Australia nor SA and is working in SA and Zim with his family business. He's still 31 and Campbell rates him, so he could have a shot.

Ervine on the other hand, after failing in Western Australia has gone to England and has been quite successful in County cricket. He is also seeking qualificiation to play for England and is 27 years of age. Bit of a waste and it looks like England's team could be full of foreigners in the near future if he's good enough.

Shakib is the Tikolo or Andy Flower of Bangladesh. A giant in a team of dwarfs and he's a real solid talent. I do think he'd perform well against the top sides and he'll make a test ton soon when the opportunity arises. Nonetheless he has something ridiculous like 5 5-for in 15 tests or something, which is awesome.  Genuine all rounder he is and I think he's a better bowler than Mahmudullah and Abdul Razzak and is the best or 2nd best batsman in the side. Probably in ODIs the best. Captaincy is also not doing any harm to his game. Top young talent this Shakib ul-Hasan bloke.

Blignaut was seriously quick in his day, over 140kph which is always a handful and when his batting clicked he was a bit like Chris Cairns, really launch at the ball and hit it hard. Unfortunately it looks like Ervine has given up on his homeland and is looking for opportunities in England. It's not like England really need him. It's a waste. I hope he comes back to Zim, hopefully Campbell and Streak can convince him. He's actually a really decent all rounder, bowls solid medium pace and is a strong batsman, made a nice ton in the VB series a few years back vs India.
Blignaut was going to be made captain before he left. They didn't pay him so he didn't play. I guess if he can get match fit and can be promised a good deal he could be lured back. I'm sure someone like Campbell isn't coaching for Zimbabwe dollars here!

Inflation is incredible over there. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to float the currency in Zimbabwe!
It's encouraging to see the older plays come back and assist. I mean look at the talent Zim has produced and compare it to Bangladesh and you'll see how much better Zim has been. They played a lot in the 90s where there were some devastating fast and spin bowlers, unlike now, so they faired quite well, including beating Pak away.
Goodwin, Flower brothers, Campbell, Carlisle, Whittall, Houghton, Johnson, Streak, Taibu, Olonga, Brandes, Price is a respactable list of cricketers. Not to mention Ervine, Blignaut and some of the guys in the current team who are doing well like Masakdza, Coventry, Taylor.

Milkman, Shakib has performed against top teams, if me remember right, he had the kiwis and the saffies in trouble with his bowling mostly.

Shakib can bat, never seen him against top spinners yet to know if he's good against spin but he bats pace quite well for a sub continent minnow player.

And Harbhajan is just focused on containing....... Mendis is a breath of fresh air though, me like his wicket to wicket line, yo only lose yo focus yo out lbw!