Bangladesh opt to bat in 1st Test against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and decided to bat first against Zimbabwe in the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Bangladesh had their best-ever year in Tests abroad and their worst possible one at home last year.

While touring, Bangladesh played six Tests, winning three — the most ever in a calendar year for them — and losing three. For the first time ever, the Tigers beat Pakistan 2-0 in a Test series and also ended their 15-year wait to clinch a Test victory against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

But at home, the Shanto-led side lost all four Tests they played, getting clean-swept 2-0 by both Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s only Test victory over Bangladesh in more than a decade came at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh XI: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali (wicketkeeper), Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana

Zimbabwe XI: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (captain), Wessly Madhevere, Nyasha Mayavo (wicketkeeper), Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Victor Nyauchi.

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