The match will be played in batting-friendly Chattogram, which means Bangladesh’s bowlers will have to work extra hard to force a result
Mohammad Isam27-Apr-2025Big picture: Zimbabwe eye series winAfter the thriller in Sylhet, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe would be expected to deliver another close Test in Chattogram. Zimbabwe were largely in control of the Sylhet game except for the last hour on the fourth day, but they held on. Bangladesh just didn’t have enough to play with and are under severe pressure to avoid a series defeat.Zimbabwe had their impressive bowling line-up, particularly the pace attack, to thank for getting them into a strong position in Sylhet. Blessing Muzarabani was the natural leader of the attack, with career-best match figures of 9 for 122, but it was the rest of the attack that surprised Bangladesh. Richard Ngarava and Victor Nyauchi were relentless, while Wellington Masakadza and Wessly Madhevere didn’t let the lower order settle.They would be a little worried about their batting, though. Brian Bennett struck twin fifties and Sean Williams got a half-century in the first innings, but otherwise they had to rely on lower-order runs. Nyasha Mayavo’s wicketkeeping will also concern the side after he dropped a few sitters.But Bangladesh have bigger problems, particularly in their batting line-up. Their openers haven’t scored an inidividual hundred or put together a century stand for more than two years. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto isn’t staying for long enough, while Mominul Haque hasn’t got a big one since their India tour.The Mushfiqur Rahim question hovers over the team management, as the veteran hasn’t got a fifty in the last 12 innings. At the same time, Jaker Ali now has a fifty in each of his first four Tests, which suggests he needs to be promoted as he mostly ends up batting with the tail.The onus, therefore, is on Bangladesh’s bowling attack to get the win in Chattogram. They are without Nahid Rana, who has left for the PSL. Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed could get Tanzim Hasan as the third seamer, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who got a ten-wicket haul in Sylhet, and Taijul Islam as the main spinners. Mehidy and Taijul, however, will have to do more early in the game to give Bangladesh a chance.Form guideBangladesh LWLLL
Zimbabwe WLLDLMushfiqur Rahim has not scored a half-century in his last 12 Test innings•AFP/Getty Images
In the spotlight: Mushfiqur Rahim and Brian BennettThe pressure is on Mushfiqur Rahim after his lean patch extended to 12 innings. His last major contribution was the 191 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, but that was eight months ago. In the Sylhet Test, he was out cheaply twice. Mushfiqur is expected to play his 100th Test match later this year, so it is crucial that he starts scoring, as questions are beginning to mount about his place in the team.Brian Bennett struck two fifties in Sylhet, both times dominating the Bangladesh attack. He said after his first half-century that Rana’s pace didn’t bother him. “The faster the ball, the further I can hit,” Bennett said. He has looked confident with his off-side shots, particularly the square cut. But both times he got out just after reaching his fifty, the second of them a worry since Zimbabwe lost their way for a bit from a strong position when he was dismissed.Team news: Bangladesh could rejig top orderBangladesh have brought in Anamul Haque to boost their top order. They have also added the uncapped left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, while quick bowler Tanzim Hasan awaits his debut.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Anamul Haque, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Jaker Ali (wk), 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Tanzim HasanBrian Bennett scored half-centuries in each innings in the first Test•AFP/Getty Images
Zimbabwe have Johnathan Campbell, Trevor Gwandu, Vincent Masekesa and Tafadzwa Tsiga on their bench, but might not want to break their winning combination.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Ben Curran, 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Nick Welch, 4 Craig Ervine (capt), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Wessly Madhevere, 7 Nyasha Mayavo (wk), 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Richard Ngarava, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Victor NyauchiPitch and conditions: Welcome to the batting havenChattogram is Bangladesh’s best batting pitch, with the last two teams batting first here scoring 500-plus each. It is hard to bowl teams out here, which could be detrimental for the home side as they try to level the series. There is a forecast for rain on the first three days.Stats and trivia Muzarabani’s 9 for 122 in Sylhet is Zimbabwe’s best match returns against Bangladesh. The previous best was Grant Flower’s 8 for 104 in Chattogram in 2001. During their second innings of the Sylhet Test, Bangladesh’s batters all got out to catches. The only other time it happened for Bangladesh was against West Indies in 2021. Mehidy now has three ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket, the most for Bangladesh, going past two each by Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul. This will be David Boon’s 87th and last Test as match referee. Quotes”Yeah, I think it’s really important to obviously understand the processes that got you to that Test win. It’s not about putting added pressure on ourselves just because we are 1-0 up and there’s an expectation to come in and win the series. We need to break it down into small bits and make sure we stick to our processes and stick to our plans.”
“I don’t think we lost strength. We lost pace. There’s nobody here with Rana’s pace. The skills are there however, especially how to bowl in Chattogram. It has always been a slower wicket. Hopefully we can extract a bit of turn and the seamers can do the job with their skills.”