After losing their first two matches, Bangladesh will be hoping to salvage some pride, while Zimbabwe will be aiming to complete a 3-0 series lead.
Miraz wants a ship upgrade
Explaining the decision to bowl early, Miraz admitted Bangladesh were disappointed with their performance in the previous game but insisted the team had moved on.
“We have to bowl first. The way we bowled in the last match, a little disappointing, but this has passed, and we will think about the next game.”
The Bangladesh skipper stressed the need for better partnerships with the bat.
“I think we need partners in the top order and then at the back end. So we made a few mistakes, but we can think about the positives and we know the conditions already as we played two games. I think we did not fight well in the last game.”
Bangladesh made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Mohammad Saifuddin and Tanvir Islam.
“We have two changes. Saifuddin is in. Tanvir is in,” Miraz added.
Raza confidence to complete a clean sweep
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has revealed that Richard Ngarava has been rested as part of workload management.
“Richard is good. I think it’s one of those policies that we have to manage our workload. If you look at Richard’s history with the back and also the games he played, so it was important to give him a rest too. So we rested him today with some other guys.”
Raza credited the positive atmosphere in the dressing room for Zimbabwe’s success in the series so far.
“The confidence and the mood and the culture that we have on the road. I think all these things add to what you see and what everyone else also sees in the park. Everyone is in a very good headspace, everyone feels confident, and today’s game is another opportunity for all of us to basically show our skills and try to close the series with 3-0.”
He also spoke about the challenge of batting on the winter pitches in Harare.
“I think that in playing Sports Club in the winter in particular, I think against a new ball, it will always be very complicated. But I think the credit to our guys even from the first game. They improved massively in the second, and today I am very convinced that there will be even more improvement in the third. We will learn on our feet, and today I think how much it is a challenge in the winter, but basically it is another opportunity for the masters of the winter”.
Zimbabwe also made three changes to the side.
“So we have Nyamhuri who’s got a niggle, he’s out. And of course we manage the workload for the bowlers. In come the two seamers, Nesto and Chivanga, and with Wellington coming in as Nyamhuri’s replacement. So two seamers and a spinner to add.”
Pitch report
The pitch at the Harare Sports Club is expected to offer assistance to batsmen and bowlers.
“The surface looks good, but there is a lot of fat, and it has been rolled, and you can only see that the color of the surface has changed because of the amount of rolling that has gone in. But there is a thick and good cover of grass. But again, it is all your application.”
Playing XI
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nurul Hasan (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanvir Islam.
Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande (wk), Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Ernest Masuku, Tanaka Chivanga.