Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

ZIM vs BAN 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ZIM vs BAN 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 1st ODI Key Players | Harare Pitch Report

The Zimbabwe-Bangladesh rivalry has another chapter, with the ODI series having an extra dimension this time around. Not only will both sides be keen to win bragging rights over the other, but important ODI Super League points are up for grabs.

For Bangladesh, they can certainly use this series as an opportunity to solidify their standing towards the top of the Super League table. Before England’s brilliance in their home season, Bangladesh sat atop the rankings thanks to series victories against West Indies and Sri Lanka. However, Mushfiqur Rahim, who was outstanding in the series against Sri Lanka, won’t be available for this series for personal reasons, placing onus on the others, including the returning Shakib Al Hasan, to produce the goods.

This series is more crucial for Zimbabwe, however. They currently sit bottom of the points table, and face a tough test with various experienced players, including Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, missing for various reasons. They can hold hope in the fact that Harare conditions can enable their bowlers to put Bangladesh’s batsmen under pressure, particularly if they get the chance to bowl first. Indeed, the Zimbabweans showed some good signs in the Test match, but need to produced prolonged periods of good cricket to get over the line.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Zimbabwe:

• With the absence of so many experienced players, Brendan Taylor undoubtedly has a key role to play. The stand-in Zimbabwe skipper was outstanding in the Test (81 off 92 balls and 92 off 73 balls).
• Taylor has the second-most runs of any player in ZIM-BAN ODIs (1,410). However, he will be looking to improve on his average of 28.77 in his 53 ODIs vs Bangladesh. In Zimbabwe, this head-to-head average increases to 32.22 (580 runs).
• Dion Myers scored 42 off 29 balls in the tour match a couple of days ago. He also comes into the match on the back of two starts in the Test match, so he has time at the crease under his belt.
• Wesley Madhevere showed some very positive signs in white-ball cricket to date. He has made a double-figure score in each of his six knocks in ODI cricket, including scores of 35, 52 and 42 vs Bangladesh in Sylhet last year.
• The presence of Sikandar Raza can hold Zimbabwe in good stead. He will be keen to improve on his career numbers vs Bangladesh (480 runs avg. 28.33, nine wickets avg. 60.55). However, out of his 17 ODIs vs the Tigers, just three have been at home, back in 2013 (61 runs).
• This is set to be Ryan Burl’s first ODI against Bangladesh. In two T20Is against them, he has scored a half-century and has a strike rate of 165.71. He will be keen to make a difference.
• Blessing Muzarabani has the potential to take wickets in any match he plays. He was superb in Pakistan in 2020, taking seven wickets in three matches at an average of 19.71.

Bangladesh:

• Tamim Iqbal missed the Test due to a knee injury, but played in the one-day warm-up match where he scored 66 off 62 balls. No player has more runs in BAN-ZIM ODIs than Tamim, with 1,684 at a fine average of 43.17.
• However, Tamim has a poor record at Harare Sports Club. In five ODIs on this ground, Tamim has struck 86 runs at an average of 17.20. Can he improve on this today?
• Shakib Al Hasan’s 1,404 ODI runs vs Zimbabwe come at an average of 40.11. In Zimbabwe, Shakib has scored 595 runs at an average of 39.66, along with 18 wickets in 18 ODIs at an average of 39.05.
• In Harare, Shakib still poses a solid record of 236 runs in eight ODIs at an average of 36.29, along with eight wickets at 37.75.
• Liton Das remains inconsistent in international cricket. However, he enjoys playing against Zimbabwe. In nine ODIs against them, Liton has struck 422 runs at 52.75, including two centuries. He is coming off a fine knock of 95 in the Test match.
• Mahmudullah is coming off a memorable final Test, where he scored 150 and won player of the match. His role as a finisher will be key here; he has 686 runs vs Zimbabwe at an average of 31.18.
• Mustafizur Rahman, if fit, will have a key role to play. He is a genuine wicket-taker in ODIs, with 16 in nine games vs Zimbabwe at an average of just 16.06. Mohammad Saifuddin also has a fine record vs Zimbabwe, with 11 scalps in five ODIs at an average of 17.09.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 76, Zimbabwe 28, Bangladesh 47.
• In Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe lead Bangladesh 15-13.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz is the second-ranked bowler in ODI cricket. He will be key here with his accuracy and Zimbabwe’s tendency to lose wickets to spin.
• Taskin Ahmed is yet to play an ODI vs Zimbabwe. He is coming off a fine Test match, where he took five wickets and constantly looked threatening.
• Tendai Chatara currently has the most wickets of any current Zimbabwe bowler vs Bangladesh (16 in 11 matches, avg. 30.68).
• No player has more ODI runs at Harare Sports Club than Brendan Taylor (2,067 runs, avg. 43.06).

Possible Playing 11

Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and Tendai Chisoro are all out of the squad, with the likes of Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza available. Timycen Maruma scored a run-a-ball 59 in the warm-up match two days ago.

Zimbabwe: 1. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani, 3. Dion Myers, 4. Brendan Taylor (c & wk), 5. Wesley Madhevere, 6. Sikandar Raza, 7. Ryan Burl, 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Richard Ngarava, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Tendai Chatara

Mushfiqur Rahim is out for personal reasons. Also, Mustafizur Rahman is reportedly a 50-50 chance to play after picking up an injury in the warm-up match, where he bowled just one delivery. Yesterday, captain Tamim Iqbal said, “He is 50-50 now. We will get an idea about him after today.”

Also, Tamim is set to play, but has to manage his knee injury. “My injury is in such a state that it will not go away quickly. It will not heal in five to six days. The physio gave me a plan. Hopefully I can manage it in the series,” said Tamim.

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal (c), 2 Mohammad Naim, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Liton Das (wk), 5 Mosaddek Hossain, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Shoriful Islam/Mustafizur Rahman

Harare Sports Club Pitch Report and Weather

This is the first ODI at Harare since Zimbabwe beat UAE 4-0 in 2019. Three of those matches were won by the team chasing, which can be a trend to follow in Harare ODIs. In 2011, when Bangladesh last played ODIs in Harare, Zimbabwe won two of three games when chasing after taking advantage of some early morning movement.

The captain who wins the toss here could look to bowl first with afternoon conditions likely to be pleasant for batting. The forecast is for a top of 19 degrees with mostly sunny conditions.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Zimbabwe will need their experienced players to lead the way, with good contributions from up-and-coming players. Bowling first could be an advantage, but Bangladesh, even without Mushfiqur Rahim, are the favourites and should win.