Bangladesh will look to finish their Zimbabwe tour on a positive note when they face off the hosts in the first T20 International of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm Bangladesh time.
The visitors have went through a disappointing tour so far, suffering a thumping innings and 85-run defeat in the one-off Test before losing the three-match ODI series 2-1.
The T20 series now offers Bangladesh one final opportunity to salvage some pride by securing a series victory.
Bangladesh dominated the last T20 series between the two sides, winning 4-1 at home in 2024, and also hold a commanding overall record against Zimbabwe in the format, with 17 wins from 25 matches.
However, recent results have shown that past records offer little advantage.
After playing the Test and ODI series in Harare, Bangladesh now move to Bulawayo, where different playing conditions present a fresh challenge.
"The conditions here are a bit different from Harare. The air is stronger, and the environment is slightly different," allrounder Mosaddek Hossain Saikat said ahead of the series.
Mosaddek, who returned to the T20 squad following encouraging performances in the ODI series, acknowledged the challenge but oozed with confidence in making a meaningful contribution.
"Whenever I get an opportunity to play, my goal is to make an impact for the team and help us win," he said. "That's always my priority. Personally, I want to contribute in whatever role the team requires at any given time."
Bangladesh's confidence stemmed from their convincing victory in the final ODI, which helped them avoid a series whitewash.
Their batting unit also rediscovered form after struggling in the Test and the opening two ODIs, providing renewed buoyancy ahead of the T20 series.
Towhid Hridoy will continue to captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Liton Das, who was ruled out of the tour after sustaining an injury during the recent home series against Australia.
Bangladesh's recent T20 form has been below expectations. They are yet to win a T20 series this year, having drawn a home series against New Zealand and lost another against Australia. They will now hope to turn things around and conclude the Zimbabwe tour with a series victory.
SQUAD
Bangladesh: Towhid Hridoy (Captain), Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Saifuddin and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri and Milton Shumba.
