Zimbabwe looks to continue a great run in men's international cricket as they prepare for a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The team enters this contest with significant momentum, having secured historic wins over Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka during the 2026 T20 World Cup to reach the Super Eight, followed by an emphatic thumping of Bangladesh in the only Test and the subsequent ODI series. The big picture for Zimbabwe is a positive one, as they aim to make good use of home conditions in Bulawayo under the leadership of captain Sikandar Raza.
The visitors face an uphill task, arriving with a depleted squad. Bangladesh is without Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Hasan Mahmud, who were granted NOCs to participate in the Lanka Premier League. Furthermore, their pace-bowling lynchpin Mustafizur Rahman has been ruled out of the tour for four weeks after suffering a grade 1 muscle tear in his right hamstring and meniscal degeneration in his right knee during the ODI series; he will travel to Birmingham for rehabilitation. Bangladesh, which was blanked 3-0 at home by Australia in their last T20I outing, will be led by Towhid Hridoy in Litton's absence. The team also sees the return of Saifuddin.
Recent form for the two sides shows Zimbabwe with a record of LLLWW in their last five completed T20Is, while Bangladesh holds a record of LLLLW. In the spotlight for the series are Brian Bennett and Nahid Rana. Bennett, touted as one of Zimbabwe's next big things, hit match-winning half-centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup and an unbeaten 97 against India, though he struggled in the recent ODIs. For Bangladesh, Nahid Rana carries added importance as the leading wicket-taker of the ODI series with seven wickets. While Rana has only played three T20Is, this series offers him a chance to improve his numbers.
Zimbabwe's squad includes changes from the World Cup, with Newman Nyamhuri and Shumba named to the side. Cremer was ruled out with a left-arm fracture, while Brendan Taylor and Tony Munyonga are other changes from the World Cup squad. Ben Curran, an injury replacement, could make his T20I debut. The probable Zimbabwe XI includes Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, and Blessing Muzarabani. Newman Nyamhuri previously broke a burgeoning stand for the second wicket in earlier action.
Bangladesh's probable XI features Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, who returns for his first T20I since 2022, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, and Nahid Rana. Sikandar Raza is set to become the oldest cricketer from Zimbabwe to play a T20I, surpassing the record previously held by Brendan Taylor, who played against Oman earlier this year. Raza will also become just the seventh men's cricketer from a Full Member to play a T20I at age 40 or more. The pitch in Bulawayo is expected to play low and slow, and there is no threat of rain. Zimbabwe has won only one bilateral series against Bangladesh, which occurred in 2022.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Ben Curran, 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 4 Sikandar Raza (capt), 5 Ryan Burl, 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Clive Madande, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing Muzarabani
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Parvez Hossain Emon, 4 Towhid Hridoy (capt), 5 Nurul Hasan (wk), 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Rishad Hossain, 8 Nasum Ahmed, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, 11 Nahid Rana
