Zimbabwe will tour Bangladesh in January to play two Tests and seven one-dayers. WOW

[Zephaniah]

Lloyd due in first week of November
Clive Lloyd, the legendary West Indian cricketer and captain, now the ICC match referee will visit Bangladesh on November 4-9 to inspect the facilities of the new venues the country have applied for the international matches. Bangladesh, on April 13 had applied to the ICC to approve Chittagong Divisional Cricket Stadium, Khulna Divisional Stadium and the Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium as the Test venues. After getting necessary documents from the BCB, the ICC have finally appointed Lloyd to make a final assessment. Mackey Dudhia, the chief executive officer of he BCB have told New Age that they are expecting a report from Lloyd within a month and if he does so Bangladesh will try to host some one-day international matches in the said venues when Zimbabwe will tour Bangladesh in January to play two Tests and seven one-dayers

Source : Newage

[TigerFan]

I didn't read anything but the title. And I think itz a wrong idea to have that many one day with zimbabwe, 'cause they aren't that strong anymore. ONe thing we could do is increase the test by one. What do u think?

[billah]

The 7-ODI will give our side a very rare, unique opportunity for the following:

1. Find a winning combination
2. Work on the weaknesses
3. Experiment with different strategies
4. Have more players debut and try out the International standard.

Zimbabwe, even without the rebel crickers, are still a force to recon with. Taibu, at his young age, is able to keep the team focused on the game plan. Very recently, they have played well enough against the big boys, that we can only dream of. A longer ODI series, against a comparable opponent, may just be the remedy we need. I'm sure Zimbabwe will also appreciate this idea. They are also in a flux with their young team. This is good.

[shaoun]

i thought it was 5 odi but 7 is better. in 2 test i hope bd can win a test match and win the series or atleast draw it. i hope bd can win the odi series too.

[rafiq]

bangladesh's first 7-0 series win? Now, that would be a first bar none.

[fwullah]

Aham, did you say "7" as in SEVEN?

[fwullah]

Our players will get tired - playing 7 ODIs in a row!

[shaoun]

well they would have to rotate players. specially fast bowlers. i mean if they play masrafee in all 7 odi i m sure that he will get injured again. we need strong domestic cricket and a strong a-team so we can rotate players.

[Sam]

If there are 7 ODIs, why not to go for 3 tests series.

[fwullah]

Yes, 3 match test series and a 5 match ODI series seems an adequate fixture.

[Ahmed_B]

Originally posted by rafiq
bangladesh's first 7-0 series win? Now, that would be a first bar none.

Trust me.. it's not gonna be as easy as u say it!!

the good thing is that... 7 ODI's vs. zim will giv us huge chance to win a handsome number of matches and improve BD ranking in the ODI point table!!
:up:

[bourny3]

I think they should go with 3 tests and 5 ODIs that looks a lot more even than 2 tests and 7 ODIs.

[chinaman]

I think 7 ODIs would be a great opportunity for us. Apart from the loss, if any, we have everything to gain from such a series. Too bad for us, none of the other test nations would agree to play long series with us at the moment.

[FaltuRidwanBhai]

Originally posted by TigerFan
I didn't read anything but the title. And I think itz a wrong idea to have that many one day with zimbabwe, 'cause they aren't that strong anymore. ONe thing we could do is increase the test by one. What do u think?

please dont be too optimistic.

[Optimist]

Originally posted by chinaman
I think 7 ODIs would be a great opportunity for us. Apart from the loss, if any, we have everything to gain from such a series. Too bad for us, none of the other test nations would agree to play long series with us at the moment.

I agree with the first part that it is a great opportunity for us to play 7 one-dayers against a team that we are expected to beat. I'm not sure that we will be able to beat them easily. My prediction is 4-3. I wish we could play a three test series against them. The question about fatigue should be of concern to Zimbabwe not to us. We have Talha, Nazmul, Shahdat, Mushfique, Mahmud beside Taposh and Mashrafee whom we can rotate. We also have Rafique, Enamul, Raz, Manjural to choose from in the spin department.

But I think it is only good that we are not playing long serieses against stronger test teams. If anything, I would say we should reduce the number of one-day internationals (against top teams) that we are playing. I would prefer if we could play more first class match (not test or ODI) against quality opponents.

[mahbubH]

Originally posted by chinaman
I think 7 ODIs would be a great opportunity for us. Apart from the loss, if any, we have everything to gain from such a series. Too bad for us, none of the other test nations would agree to play long series with us at the moment.

7 ODI series with other test natiions (except ZIM)?? That will bring too many depressing days in a short time!

[fwullah]

Apart from the loss, if any, we have everything to gain from such a series


How can you be so sure that we have everything to gain? Have you considered what will happen to us, if, for example, we can beat Zimbabwe in only 2 ODIs, and then be beaten in the other 5 ODIs?

How will we feel then? Ofcourse, I'm the most pessmisitic around here, and I hope that my fear does not come true, but before appointing a strategy, I believe we should look at the consequences first, then decide on what to do for sure.

I think the BCB is trying its hard to make our team competitive in the ODI stage, and the one thing that they can do, apart from appointing coaches and staffs is the arrange these matches, especially concentrating on the ODIs.

I believe that 'too much of anything' is not good for anyone. Let us take an example from our very recent past. During the year 2001, and also after, the major area of concern for the Board at the time was to play Test cricket and Test cricket. They had no plans to play in ODI tournaments consisting of more than 2 teams. Result: no plan for the world cup 2003.

And also during that time, our board was too much interested in getting fast bowlers - resulting in getting players like Mashrafee Bin Murtoza, Talha Jubair and many others. And to get all those fast bowlers, we even hired Mohsin Kamal, a fast bowling coach as our national coach. Well, what happened next? We're suffering from pace-bowling-injury crisis.

In the end, I would like to say that 7 ODIs is fine, just make sure first that we have 5 match test series as well, to make things adequate. In that way, we'll get enough number of tests as well as ODIs on our hands.

[Zephaniah]

Get real folks! No need to get overboard. BD couldn't (and wouldn't) whitewash an associate team yet, past experience tells me. This young Zimbabwean team is shaping up faster then you think they are. Not only their inspirational skipper T. Taibu, you'd be in for a rude shock if you rule out potentials of B. taylor, E. Chigumbura, (?) Paniengara. Even a Sibanda or Dion 'who' Ebrahim could be too much to handle if you know our team's srtength - consistant inconsistancy!.

At this stage i would rather predict 4-3 ODI series win.
Probebly BD wouldnt lose the test series, but more than 1-0 series win looks highly unlikely.

DON'T BLOW THIS OPPORTUNITY UP PLEASE. DON'T THINK IT'D BE AN EASY STROLL IN THE PARK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

Edited on, October 15, 2004, 4:39 PM GMT, by Zephaniah.
Reason: warning!

[amit(a huge BD fan)]

i would go with bd winning the tests 1-0 or drawing it 1-1 and zim winning the odis 6-1/7-0.

this new look zim team is far better than the current bd team in odis, however bd is the better team in tests.

[Fazal]

"zim winning the odis 6-1/7-0" ? Thats very un-amit (a huge BD fan) like prediction.

And my prediction:

Test: BD wins 1-0
ODI: BD wind 4-3

[bourny3]

My prediction: Tests BD wins 1-0
ODI: Zim wins 4-3

[chinaman]

Originally posted by fwullah
How can you be so sure that we have everything to gain? Have you considered what will happen to us, if, for example, we can beat Zimbabwe in only 2 ODIs, and then be beaten in the other 5 ODIs?

How will we feel then?

Hahaha, as I said, "Apart from the loss".

When you play same bunch of players in 7 ODIs, you get the oportunity to be familiar with their play, style and mindset. You can also tweak you game plan accordingly. Bangladesh had never been able to play with the play before.

When you play only 2/3 ODIs, the series is over before you find out the "secret" of an individual player. Now a days most research on the opponent are done by the coach.

Longer series will present chances to find out first hand how an otherwise impressive bowler behave when hit unexpectedly or how many ways a batsman can be lured into charging or who are relatively weak in fielding or is it smart to go for the wickets ignoring the score at the begining or is it better to be on strong guard against score ignoring wickets at the beginning or when is the best time for a particular bowler to start a spell against a particular batsman or how to create confusion among certain partners etc etc to name a few.

[bdmoderator]

:fire: If really 7 ODIs will arranged, it will be great. :fire:

[Sam]

Originally posted by chinaman
...When you play only 2/3 ODIs, the series is over before you find out the "secret" of an individual player. Now a days most research on the opponent are done by the coach...
Now-a-days mostly all test teams are analyzing individual players of their opponent team by replaying the video clips and field accordingly. Do you think that we are also doing the same exercise and our captain knows all these stuff before he goes to the field?

[chinaman]

Yes. I believe our team analyzes all opponents. However I'm clueless as to how deep the actual analysis is and how far they actually go about knowing a particular opponent.

A longer series is sure to enrich these research and analysis substantially. How well are we capable of utilizing this knowledge is a different story though.

[shaoun]

they do analyse the opponents. nasir hussein is our computer annalist. i m sure they do. mayb our technology is not as great as ausi and south africa.

[fwullah]

Yes, a few days back, there was a picture of Nasu with a laptop and a couple of national players watching the laptop.

[Huda]

this zim side willd efiently lose agaisnt us in the tests but in one dayers im not so sure, they posted 253 the other day agaisnt pak, which we havent done against any top level side for a while.

[Mahmood]

Hold your horses...

Zimbabwe's Test status will be restored after their tour of Bangladesh next year.

<a href="http://plus1.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/OCT/076184_ZIM_17OCT2004.html">CricInfo</a>

[Ahmed_B]

Hmm... so the ZIM's earned it!
they showed remarkable fightback in the ICCCT.. and earned respect!
now this new info shows that they are expected to do much better vs. BD in next tour!

well.. the way BD has played in the last two Tournaments.. anyone will ask the question "If BD gets to enjoy total TEST STATUS.. then why not ZIM??"

and BD or anyone else has no reply to it..! :duh:

(personally I don't believe that a team's ODI and TEST performances shud be judged completely seperately... because both version of the game represents a team's level)

[Sam]

Quote:
Zimbabwe's Test status will be restored after their tour of Bangladesh next year.
That means there will be no test matches between BD and Zim!!!
I am disappointed. Very much disappointed.

[bourny3]

Do you think this is a typo or for real. Why would they do that. ICC are stupid if that is the case. Have the closest series between the so called minnows and not even give it test status. This is unbeleivable. Hopefully the report has got it wrong.

[Mahmood]

Well, ICC dont want BD to have a free win. BD has to earn the first ever TEST win.

[Zephaniah]

Not even the most generous of bookmakers would tip Zimbabwe for any level of success. England are unbackable favourites to win the series, with Zimbabwe any old price even against an under-strength visiting side.

The country has spent that winless eight months in turmoil, with 15 rebels walking out amid the sacking of skipper Heath Streak and accusations of racism in Zimbabwe Cricket, claims that were thrown out by an International Cricket Council investigation.

Now, although the Robert Mugabe media ban served as a brief distraction, Zimbabwe are finally beginning to focus solely on the game itself.

And although their next win probably won't come until next year's tour of Bangladesh, the south African country has a few gems in their midst and enough reasons to be cheerful.

ZIMBABWE'S POST-REBEL WALKOUT LOSING STREAK
20/4/04: Sri Lanka - 12 runs
22/4/04: Sri Lanka - 9 wkts
25/4/04: Sri Lanka - 9 wkts
27/4/04: Sri Lanka - 72 runs
29/4/04: Sri Lanka - 25 runs
25/5/04: Australia - 7 wkts
27/5/04: Australia - 139 runs
29/5/04: Australia - 8 wkts
10/9/04: England - 152 runs
14/9/04: Sri Lanka - 4 wkts
30/9/04: Pakistan - 144 runs
3/11/04: Pakistan - 3 wkts
9/11/04: Sri Lanka - 7 wkts

Already Barney Rogers and Gavin Ewing - two of the original rebels - have returned to the international fold, and more could follow.

ZCU chief Peter Chingoka recently said: "Our doors are open to any of the concerned players to return," also highlighting that the numbers playing cricket in Zimbabwe has risen from 15,000 to 60,000.

Despite that, Zimbabwe will be the first to admit they are nowhere near the finished article in world cricket, as the removal of their Test status for the rest of 2004 will testify.

That said, they showed promise in September's Champions Trophy game against Sri Lanka, which they lost in a close finish, and also impressed in last month's Paktel Cup against Pakistan.

In those games, four bright lights stood out - Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Tinashe Panyangara and captain Tatenda Taibu.

So youthful is Zimbabwe's line-up, that quartet's combined age is two years less than the combined years of Mark Waugh and brother Steve, the former Australia captain who only retired from competitive cricket earllier this year.


Taibu has been the leading light of Zimbabwe cricket

Taibu is now the global face of Zimbabwe cricket, having taken over the captaincy from Streak at the age of 21.

A terrier of limited-overs cricket, he recorded his best-ever international score - 96 not out - in his first game in charge of the side. An impressive 57 against Australia and scores in the forties against England and Pakistan followed.

His reach behind the stumps has also caught the attention, all the more considering his diminutive stature - he is only five-foot tall.

Taylor has gone some way to reducing the pressure on Taibu to hold up the spine of an innings. The 18-year-old has recorded four half-centuries in 13 outings to the crease.

Although his game looks better suited to Test cricket, with 30 centuries in all classes of cricket under his belt, he looks set to be one of the key targets of England's bowling attack.

Zimbabwe's bowling line-up is not expected to leave England quaking, but Panyangara's figures of 2-48 against Australia and 3-28 against Pakistan have seen the 19-year-old heralded as the new hope of Zimbabwean bowling.

Chigumbura's efforts with the ball have been less impressive but his seemingly carefree attitude stole the limelight against Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy with a half-century and three wickets.

Zimbabwe's top four will not turn things around overnight but the ever-optimistic Taibu believes facing England could be the perfect springboard.

He said: "England are a better team and since we are looking to keep going forward we need to be playing against better teams."

Zimbabwe go into the series with nothing to lose. Only time will tell if they can get to grips with the world's elite.

Source :BBC

[arafath79]

I hope Bangladesh will not lose the match by 7-0. They should win atleast two matches against Zimbabwe. Other wise laathi mara dorkar shalader.:umm:

[bourny3]

I dont think that it is a 7 match OD tournament any more is it.

[amir747]

Originally posted by rafiq
bangladesh's first 7-0 series win? Now, that would be a first bar none.

hope so!

[FaltuRidwanBhai]

Originally posted by fwullah
Yes, 3 match test series and a 5 match ODI series seems an adequate fixture.

i agree 100%. 7 one day is just too much. and i am sure taka uthate parbe na. incase jodi bd harte thake tahole to kothai nai.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally posted by arafath79
I hope Bangladesh will not lose the match by 7-0. They should win atleast two matches against Zimbabwe. Other wise laathi mara dorkar shalader.:umm:

couldn't have agreed more...as a matter of fact, i think we should look to win this series, even if all the rebels come back. we will be playing at our home ground in batting friendly pitches with rafique to kick their butts. we should look to post our first ever ODI series win. looking at the way things are going at the moment, however, i don't see how that's possible.

[chyicarus]

This series is far far away- more looking forward to the Ind-Bng series!!! We can get a progress report out of that which will help us prediction any kind of result for the series against Zim!

[reinausagi]

Looks like Ehsan Mani has decided that the BD-ZIM series will have full test status after all.

[FaltuRidwanBhai]

kono mote jodi bangladesh bhalo batting kore india ar biruddhe then i am sure they will be in full confidence against zimbabwe. i dont care about the result against india i just hope their batting improves because the result is kind of known to all if we think realisticly.

[Ahmed_B]

Recent news (I hav read in Prothom Alo) clarifies that Zim's test status will be restored during the BD tour.. so they will play vs. BD as a Test team again..

[mzia]

Originally posted by reinausagi
Looks like Ehsan Mani has decided that the BD-ZIM series will have full test status after all.

Yes there is no question about the test status of Zim.

Mani said: "There is no ultimatum on Zimbabwe to reach a satisfactory standard. The six months period was just loose."

News (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3217494)

[bourny3]

That is good news. BD first win hopefully coming up. Although the young zims are improving considerably.

[Alomelo]

Originally posted by Fazal
"zim winning the odis 6-1/7-0" ? Thats very un-amit (a huge BD fan) like prediction.

And my prediction:

Test: BD wins 1-0
ODI: BD wind 4-3

Hope your prediction comes true!!!