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DHAKA.-Bangladesh will be on guard against complacency when they face a struggling Zimbabwe in a three-match one-day cricket series which starts in Dhaka today, said the team’s coach.
The hosts have not lost a home series to Zimbabwe since 2001 and routed the minnows 5-0 last year to spark a remarkable winning streak.
This year, Bangladesh reached the World Cup quarter-final Down Under and recorded back-to-back one-day series wins at home against Pakistan, India and South Africa.
It lifted Bangladesh to seventh in the official rankings and guaranteed them a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017.
Bangladesh’s Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusinghe declined to take another victory for granted, saying “there was no reason for complacency” in his team.
Zimbabwe come fresh from a humiliating loss at home to Afghanistan, who won the one-dayers 3-2 and clinched both Twenty20 internationals.
“The most important thing for us is to pick ourselves up and focus on Bangladesh,” Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said.
Bangladesh’s one-day captain Mashrafe Mortaza remains doubtful for the first match since he is yet to regain full fitness after suffering from dengue fever.
Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar was also ruled out of the match with a side strain and was replaced by Imrul Kayes.
Zimbabwe are also due to play two Twenty20 internationals on the limited-overs tour.
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Kamrul Islam.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.- AFP.
Online Reporter