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1st ODI of Bangladesh Zimbabwe series starts from Sunday
DOT Desk: [2]After the one-off Test, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are now set to face off in a three-match ODI series starting at Sylhet International Stadium on Sunday. Bangladesh are looking to show the same dominance that they have demonstrated in the one-off Test winning the match by an innings and 106 runs.[3] Before heading to this game, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe faced each other in 72 ODIs with Bangladesh winning 44 of them, and Zimbabwe winning 28, reports UNB.
[4] Bangladesh called new faces- Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim- for this series. Both of them have played a few T20Is for the Tigers. Ahead of possible ODI debut, they expressed that they are ready to take the new challenge.
[5] “I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Now my dream came true as I am a member of the Bangladesh ODI team. If I get a chance in the playing XI, I will try to utilise it for my team,” Afif told the media before leaving for Sylhet on Thursday.
[6] Afif usually bats at the middle-order. But in the national team, he might not get a chance at the same place as there are some established members at the top-order. However, the southpaw said he is ready to bat at in any position. [7] “It depends on the team combination. If the team management decides to play me at the top of the order, I am up for that. Actually, I am ready to bat at any position,” Afif added.
[8] Like Afif, Naim is also excited to be a part of the Bangladesh ODI team. The left-handed batsman said he is confident to take the challenge of 50-over cricket in the international arena.[9] “It’s a new challenge for me and I am ready to take a challenge at any time. I was advised to work on some special aspects of my game during the two-day practice match against Zimbabwe before the Test. I worked on those and now, I am ready to play 50-over cricket,” Naim told the media on Thursday.
[10] Naim also insisted that he feels lucky to play for the Bangladesh team under the captaincy of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. [11] While the first match of the series will be played on Sunday, the remaining matches are on March 3 and 6 at the same venue. All the matches will be telecast live by Gtv.