Preview: Bangladesh stand between Zimbabwe and unexpected bid for semi-final spot
It has been a tournament to remember so far for Zimbabwe. Impressive and dominant wins over Scotland and Ireland in Round 1 earned them a spot in the Super 12 stage, and it’s just got better and better since then.
Rain helped Craig Ervine’s side a little in their opening Super 12 match, with the points shared between Zimbabwe and the world’s third-ranked T20I side South Africa.
But they built on that point with one of the best displays of the tournament so far, shocking Pakistan in Perth in a last-gasp thriller that will live long in the memory.
If that’s the high point of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 for Zimbabwe then they will depart with their heads held high. But, with two of the toughest fixtures already behind them, Ervine and his men now have a real chance of upsetting the odds and battling for a semi-final spot.
To do so they must first overcome Bangladesh, a team ranked two spots higher than them in the MRF ICC T20I Team Rankings. After that comes an intriguing fixture against the Netherlands. Four points from those two matches could potentially be enough for Zimbabwe regardless of the result of the final group game against India.
It’s a huge opportunity. And in Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe have a player who has shown he’s more than capable of grasping opportunities on the biggest stage.
Sunday’s opponents Bangladesh were put to the sword by South Africa last time out, but have some in-form quality of their own.
If strike bowler Taskin Ahmed fires, as he did when taking 4/25 against the Netherlands, then Bangladesh can win the game with the ball.
Taskin Ahmed's rise to becoming Bangladesh's key bowler | T20WC 2022
Bangladesh: Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Regis Chakabva (wk), Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani
'Zimbabwe! Zimbabwe!' Inside the winning celebrations | T20WC 2022
Sikandar Raza: The veteran all-rounder has played match-defining roles in all of Zimbabwe's wins in this T20 World Cup. He scored an unbeaten 82 against Ireland and then scored a match-winning 40 against Scotland, while remaining unbeaten once again. But he went one better, picking up three wickets in a stunning spell to turn the game and set Zimbabwe on a path to their famous win over Pakistan last time out.
**Shakib Al Hasan:**Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was in top-notch form during the T20 tri-series which included New Zealand and Pakistan apart from Bangladesh. He was a part of just three games but he smashed 154 runs at a strike rate of nearly 151. He also remains an extremely important spin-bowling option for his team.
Captaincy Pick: Sikandar Raza
Sikandar Raza has breathed fire in 2022 so far. Brilliant with the bat and deadly with the ball, Zimbabwe's star all-rounder is his country's main man and one of the stars of the tournament. When legends of the game like Ricky Ponting are taking notice you know you're doing something right.
Highlights: Raza takes match-turning 3/25 to win POTM
Must-have Pick: Taskin Ahmed
The Bangladesh bowler can do a lot of damage with his pace. The best example is his career-best numbers of 4/25 in the recent game against the Netherlands which helped the Tigers defend a modest score of 144 in the first innings. Taskin has claimed 33 dismissals in 43 T20Is at an average of 34.24. Bangladesh will have many expectations from their speedster.
Differential Pick: Brad Evans
The quality of the final over in the win over Pakistan was seriously impressive and highlighted the talent Evans has. A genuine all-rounder, if he gets going with the bat he can add some points there, but it is with the ball where he is more likely to make his presence count.