The first and inaugural One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series between host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will be played at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur Saturday.
Watch the live stream here and here, and check out the live scores here and here. The day and night match starts at 1 p.m. local time ( 7 a.m. GMT/ 2 a.m. ET) Saturday, Nov. 7.
Bangladesh, which is placed seventh at the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s ODI Ranking, is looking to consolidate its position, according to ICC Cricket. The hosts will gain one point if they clean sweep the ODI series.
In a big blow to the Bangladeshi squad, aggressive opener Soumya Sarkar was ruled out of the first ODI due to injuries. Left-handed opener Imrul Kayes will replace him in the squad, according to bdnews24.
"It's a great opportunity for me as I returned in the ODI side after the World Cup. I will try to utilise the opportunity as I have been in good touch in the domestic league this season and I think there is no extra pressure on me," Kaynes told Dhaka Tribune newspaper.
Zimbabwe, which won a tour game against Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI two days back, gained much needed confidence ahead of the crucial tournament. The tourists recently lost an ODI series to Afghanistan and became the first full ICC member to lose to an associate nation.
"I think it is always good to start off a tour on a winning note, especially to win with quite a few wickets in hand against a large total. It is good practice for us. It is not going to be easy to play the ODIs against Bangladesh. It is more about taking the confidence from a practice game. We didn't have a good series at home against Afghanistan but we have put that behind us now," Zimbabwean middle order batsman Craig Ervine said after the warm up match, according to The Daily Star.
The probable squads:
Bangladesh
Mashrafe Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Litton Das, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal.
Zimbabwe
Elton Chigumbura, Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.
