Fresh faces added to the experiment

There might be as many as four Bangladeshi players making their T20I debuts when the Tigers play Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Khulna today.

The most obvious changes in the eleven are likely to take place in the pace department. With Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain not in the squad, uncapped pacers Abu Haider and Mohammad Shahid are expected to replace them.

Haider was the second highest wicket-taker in the Bangladesh Premier League and was by far the most impressive pacer. Shahid, who has played Test cricket for Bangladesh, also bowled decently in the T20 competition scalping 14 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 16.14.

The other two players who could join the duo and also make their debuts are Mosaddek Hossain and Muktar Ali.

With the injured Mushfiqur Rahim out of the squad, there is a possibility for the 20-year-old Mosaddek to play in his place. Alternately, the team management may also think about including Imrul Kayes in the eleven.

However, the chances of the left-hander featuring today are less considering that there is no room in the top four positions.

Muktar, on the other hand, may come in at number eight. If he is in the eleven, he will be expected to play the role of a bowling all-rounder.

If the hosts go on to win today, it will be their fifth series victory in this format of the game. More than the victory however, the experiments and the changes in the side have garnered attention. 

The team management is yet to confirm a fifth bowler in the side and they are also testing various batting options.

An aspect that the hosts will want to improve in this series is their batting. Their batting has not been entirely impressive so far with batsmen struggling to take singles and none of them making the most of their starts.

The Zimbabweans are facing a similar scenario. They had rested their skipper Elton Chigumbura in the last match and according to their team management they too will be looking to experiment.

With the likes of Mustafizur and Mushfiqur out of the picture, both of whom played important roles in the first two matches and the hosts still sorting out their batting order, the final two T20Is may actually be a good opportunity for the visitors to apply some pressure.

Zimbabwe just have not been able to perform as a team in the first two matches. While they batted well in the first game, their bowlers clicked in the second. They will hope both departments fire today at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.