First one-day today
Sports Reporter
Fresh after their maiden Test series triumph Bangladesh will turn their focus on the abridged version of the game when the first of five-match one-day internationals against Zimbabwe begins at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today. The day-night match, starting at 1pm, will certainly test the nerve of both teams 48 hours after a gruelling five-day battle at the same venue. Bangladesh Television and ESPN will provide live coverage of the game from the Big Bowl. After the match, the series will go for a three-day Eid break before the second ODI in Chittagong on January 24. Buoyed by their 1-0 series victory, the spirited Tigers now eye their maiden one-day series win against an inexperienced Zimbabwe who are coming to the game on the back of a 17-match losing streak. Zimbabwe's only two ODI victories in 2004 came against Bangladesh at home in March last year when they took the five-match series 2-1. The first two matches were washed out in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe, however, are not the same side that have won 12 games out of total 13 between the two teams. Going through a transition period following a revolt of the senior cricketers over selection policy, Tatenda Taibu's side lost series to Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan and England and both their ICC Champions Trophy matches. Still, it is expected that experience of playing against the big guns in recent times will make them a much harder side to beat in the limited-overs series. Bangladesh's only win against Zimbabwe also came in March last year when Habibul Bashar's men recorded an eight-run victory at Harare to take a 1-0 lead which they could not prevail in the end. But Bashar's men reached even greater heights last month when they celebrated their 100th ODI with a stunning 15-run triumph over mighty India at the same venue. Incidentally, it was their first one-day victory on the home soil. But going into the first game, injuries to some key players remain a worry for coach Dav Whatmore. Champion left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique has been ruled out from the first three games. Besides, young paceman Mashra-fee-Bin-Mortuza and record-breaking left-arm spinner Enamul Haque will also be rested for today's match. Zimbabwe also have injury problems for senior paceman Mluleki Nkala and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura. Both teams have decided to announce the playing eleven today.
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