Tigers have elected to bat first in the first ODI international of UCB Bangladesh-Zimbabwe Series 2018 as Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza won the toss at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur in Dhaka on Sunday.
Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Ariful Haque and Abu Haider Rony have been dropped from the squad as 30-year old Fazle Rabbi debuts for Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe will field leaving Richard Ngarava, Solomon Mire, John Nyumbu, Wellington Masakadza, and Tarisai Musakanda.
In their previous 69 ODI encounters, Bangladesh registered 41 victories against 28 losses, according to a UNB report.
Though Zimbabwe skipper touted the visitors as 'favourite' in an interview, Bangladesh remains a formidable opponent at home soil winning five of the last six series except one against England in 2016.
Best XI:
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Liton Kumar Das, Imrul Kayes, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, , Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam Apu, Rubel Hossain, Abu Hider Rony, Saifuddin and Fazle Rabbi.
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Cephas Zhuwao, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Brandon Mavuta, Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara
