Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test Match Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 22/02/2020
Bangladesh host Zimbabwe for a one-off Test match in Mirpur. Both teams will be looking to assess their options due to a host of changes, some forced on them and others chosen.
Bangladesh will be keen to win on home soil following their recent Test defeat to Pakistan. That also followed T20 losses to the same opponents.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, come into the game on the back of a Test series loss in Sri Lanka. However, an improved showing in the second and final Test will have given them encouragement for this.
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test – Match Preview
Where: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka
When: Saturday 22nd February
Pitch conditions: There is a recent favour towards teams that bat first at Sher-e-Bangla. The pitch is better for batting early on but can quickly deteriorate and become helpful to spin bowling.
Weather conditions: There is a slight chance of rain at times but it doesn’t look like there will be enough to trouble a result. Temperatures range from the low 20s to the 30c mark over the course of this one.
Start Time: 09:30 (IST), 04:00 (GMT)
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test – Latest Odds
Bangladesh are considered big favourites to win this game. They can be backed at 1.29 (2/7) with bet365 to come put on top.
Zimbabwe can be backed at 6.50 (11/2) to cause an upset. The draw is available at 8.00 (7/1).
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test – Team News
Home side Bangladesh have chosen to rest Mahmudullah for this one-off clash. He is one of four changes to the squad as the Tigers look at the other options available to them.
Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar and Al-Amin Hossain are the other men to make way. In comes Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustrafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan, who all return to the squad after an absence. There are first-time call-ups for medium-pace bowler Hasan Mahmud and batsman Yasir Ali.
Zimbabwe will be without skipper Sean Williams due to the birth of his first child. It means Craig Ervine will be leading the team in Mirpur.
They also have Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis still missing with back and bicep injuries respectively. Chris Mpofu has been recalled to the squad after an absence of more than two years from the Test set-up.
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test Squads
Bangladesh | Zimbabwe |
Mominul Haque (c) | Craig Ervine (c) |
Tamim Iqbal | Regis Chakabva |
Saif Hassan | Sikandar Raza |
Najmul Hossain Shanto | Kevin Kasuza |
Mushfiqur Rahim | Timycen Maruma |
Mohammad Mithun | Prince Masvaure |
Liton Das | Christopher Mpofu |
Taijul Islam | Brian Mudzinganyama |
Abu Jayed | Carl Mumba |
Nayeem Hasan | Tinotenda Mutombodzi |
Ebadat Hossain | Ainsley Ndlovu |
Taskin Ahmed | Victor Nyauchi |
Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Brendan Taylor |
Mustafizur Rahman | Donald Tiripano |
Hasan Mahmud | Charlton Tshuma |
Yasir Ali |
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test – Betting Tips and Prediction
This looks like another tough test for Zimbabwe, especially given their enforced changes due to injury and absence. The loss of captain Sean Williams makes their task even more difficult. Bangladesh are under pressure to get the win but they should have enough to do just that.
However, Bangladesh’s price is far from an appealing betting proposition, so it may be worth looking at the top batsman and bowler markets when looking for a value selection.
Returning Rahim to be Bangladesh’s star man
Mushfiqur Rahim is back for Bangladesh and he can carry on where he left off in India in November. He knocked 43 and 64 in the first Test in Indore before an even more impressive second innings 74 in the second Test in Kolkata.
He’s fresh after missing the recent Pakistan defeat and his price of 4.33 (10/3) with bet365 to be Bangladesh’s first innings top run-scorer looks worth noting.
As for Zimbabwe, it’s hard to look beyond the in-form Brendan Taylor. He’s available at 4.00 (3/1) to be his side’s main man in the first innings. It looks a good selection given the absence of Williams.
Abu Jayed in red-hot form
Right-arm medium pacer Abu Jayed looks worth considering the top first innings bowler market.
He took three wickets in the first Test in Pakistan but it was his form in India that makes his price seem far too high for this encounter,
The first Test in India saw the 26-year-old bag the wickets of Sharma, Pujara, Rahane and Virat Kohli for a duck. He is now priced at 5.50 (9/2 ) with bet365 to continue that momentum back home. While conditions may favour spin late on, he can still make hay in the first innings.
Zimbabwe’s main man with the ball looks likely to be Sikandar Raza once more. His price of 3.75 (11/4) also seems like a decent bet.
Best Bet: Abu Jayed to be Bangladesh’s top first innings wicket-taker at 5.50 (9/2) with bet365.