The Bangladesh cricket team toured Zimbabwe in July 2021 to play one Test, three One Day International (ODI), and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. Bangladesh last toured Zimbabwe in April and May 2013. Originally, two Test matches were scheduled to be played on the tour, but one of the Tests was replaced with an additional T20I match.
Despite the suspension of sporting activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) gave its permission for the tour to go ahead. In June 2021, the tour itinerary was confirmed by Zimbabwe Cricket, with all the matches being played in a bio-secure environment at the Harare Sports Club behind closed doors.
The Bangladesh cricket team arrived in Zimbabwe on 30 June 2021, following a twelve-team T20 tournament in Bangladesh. During the one-off Test match, Bangladesh's Mahmudullah announced his retirement from Test cricket. Bangladesh went on to win the Test match by 220 runs. Bangladesh won the first ODI by 155 runs, and the second match by three wickets, to win the series with a match to spare. Bangladesh won the third ODI by five wickets to win the series 3–0.
On 19 July 2021, both cricket boards agreed to a minor reschedule of the T20I fixtures. The end date of the tour was brought forward by two days, due to "scheduling and logistical challenges".
The first T20I match of the series was also the 100th T20I to be played by Bangladesh. With their eight-wicket victory, they became the third team, after Australia and Pakistan, to win their 100th match in all three formats of international cricket. Zimbabwe won the second T20I match by 23 runs to level the series with one match to play. Bangladesh won the third T20I match by five wickets to take the series 2–1.
Squads TestODIsT20Is Brendan Taylor (c) Sean Williams (c) Regis Chakabva Tendai Chatara Tendai Chisoro Tanaka Chivanga Craig Ervine Joylord Gumbie Luke Jongwe Roy Kaia Takudzwanashe Kaitano Kevin Kasuza Timycen Maruma Wellington Masakadza Blessing Muzarabani Dion Myers Richard Ngarava Victor Nyauchi Milton Shumba Donald Tiripano Mominul Haque (c) Taskin Ahmed Yasir Ali Litton Das (wk) Mehidy Hasan Nayeem Hasan Nurul Hasan Saif Hassan Shakib Al Hasan Ebadot Hossain Tamim Iqbal Shadman Islam Shoriful Islam Taijul Islam Abu Jayed Mahmudullah Mushfiqur Rahim Najmul Hossain Shanto Brendan Taylor (c) Ryan Burl Regis Chakabva Tendai Chatara Luke Jongwe Tinashe Kamunhukamwe Wesley Madhevere Timycen Maruma Tadiwanashe Marumani Wellington Masakadza Blessing Muzarabani Dion Myers Richard Ngarava Sikandar Raza Milton Shumba Donald Tiripano Tamim Iqbal (c) Taskin Ahmed Litton Das (wk) Mehidy Hasan Nurul Hasan Shakib Al Hasan Afif Hossain Mosaddek Hossain Rubel Hossain Shoriful Islam Taijul Islam Mohammad Mithun Mohammad Naim Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) Mustafizur Rahman Mahmudullah Mohammad Saifuddin Sikandar Raza (c) Ryan Burl Regis Chakabva Tendai Chatara Luke Jongwe Tinashe Kamunhukamwe Wesley Madhevere Tadiwanashe Marumani Wellington Masakadza Tarisai Musakanda Blessing Muzarabani Dion Myers Richard Ngarava Milton Shumba Donald Tiripano Mahmudullah (c) Nasum Ahmed Taskin Ahmed Litton Das (wk) Mahedi Hasan Nurul Hasan (wk) Shakib Al Hasan Afif Hossain Shamim Hossain Tamim Iqbal Aminul Islam Shoriful Islam Mohammad Naim Mushfiqur Rahim Mustafizur Rahman Mohammad Saifuddin Soumya Sarkar
Three days after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had named the squads for the tour, Mahmudullah was added to Bangladesh's Test squad. Initially, Mahmudullah had not been included in the Test squad after not being able to bowl due to an injury. After initially opting out of the T20I matches, Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim made himself available for the fixtures. However, he later pulled out of the ODI and T20I squads due to family reasons. Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of Bangladesh's T20I squad due to a knee injury.
Sean Williams was initially named as Zimbabwe's captain for the one-off Test. However, Williams and Craig Ervine both had to go into self-isolation, after being in close-contact with an individual who was COVID-19 positive. As a result, Brendan Taylor was named as Zimbabwe's captain for the match. Taylor was also named as captain of Zimbabwe's ODI team, with Williams and Ervine continuing to isolate. Brendan Taylor was rested for the T20I fixtures with Sikandar Raza named as Zimbabwe's captain for the matches.
Warm-up matches
Only Test
ODI series 1st ODI
2nd ODI
3rd ODI
T20I series 1st T20I
2nd T20I
3rd T20I
References
External links Series home at ESPN Cricinfo