Tigers on course to revive Test form

The 18-member Bangladesh national cricket team's Test squad, led by Mominul Haque, have reached Zimbabwe, following a long 21-hour journey yesterday. 

Bangladesh's recent performances in the Test format has remained below par, having lost consecutive test series -- first against an inexperienced West Indies side followed by Sri Lanka -- earlier this year. Thus the Tigers will surely look to return to winning ways in Zimbabwe.

However, according to the Tigers team management, the tour of Zimbabwe is not going to be an easy one, especially in Harare. And considering the injury concerns of Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, the selectors had to include the experienced Mahmudullah Riyad in the Test squad at the very last moment. 

Bangladesh are touring the African nation for the first time in eight years and are scheduled to start the bilateral series against the host with the lone Test at Harare Sports Club (HSC) on July 7. 

The Tigers went on to lose the three-match ODI series 2-1 while they managed to level both the two-match Test and T20I series on their previous tour to Zimbabwe, back in 2013. 

Star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who was in the United States with his family, and batsman Shadman Islam, travelled separately and will join the team at Harare. Left-hander opener Shadman had some visa complications before he finally boarded the flight. 

Newly appointed coaching staff -- spin consultant Ranagana Herath -- joined the team in transit at Doha while batting coach Ashwell Prince joined the Tigers during the layover at Johannesburg. 

Bangladesh team members underwent the Covid-19 tests upon reaching Zimbabwe and went to the hotel after being tested negative. The visitors however, will not have to spend a long time in quarantine as they will be allowed to use the training facilities at the Harare Sports Club after a days' break. 

The visitors will also take part in a two-day warm up game on July 3 and 4 before facing the Chevrons in the lone Test match. 

During the month-long tour, Bangladesh will also play a three-match ODI series which is part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League. Ahead of the ODI series, Bangladesh will play a 50-over warm-up game on July 14. 

The first of the three match ODI series is scheduled on July 16 while the second and third match is set to take place on July 18 and July 20 respectively. The remaining members of the ODI side -- Mohammad Naim, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain -- are due to travel to Zimbabwe on July 8. 

Bangladesh will also take part in the three match T20I series followed by the ODI series scheduled for July 23, 25 and 27 respectively. Members of the Tigers T20I side -- Soumya Sarkar, Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Aminul Islam and Sheikh Mahedi -- is set to leave for Zimbabwe on July 11. 

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe Cricket had announced: the series against Bangladesh will be played behind closed doors. The board had also confirmed that the Sports and Recreation Commission of the country has granted permission to host Bangladesh in July despite a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.