Bangladesh took two more wickets post-lunch, but a half-century from Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe take a 22-run lead as they reached 213-6 at Tea break on Day 2 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Bangladesh speedster Nahid Rana led Bangladesh’s fightback in the morning session by striking thrice as Zimbabwe were reduced to 133-4 at Lunch on Day 2 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today, still trailing by 58 runs.

Bangladesh pacers had their tails up in the first hour of Day 2 with Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud making inroads and reducing Zimbabwe to 88-3 in the opening Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Before yesterday, the Test series against Zimbabwe was seen as a chance for Bangladesh to bounce back from the five consecutive home Test defeats and also as an opportunity for some Bangladeshi batters to get back into runs.

After the abysmal performance with the bat, the bowlers also let down Bangladesh as Zimbabwe reached 67-0 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Jaker Ali and the tail-enders could not push Bangladesh’s total beyond 200 as the hosts got bundled out for a mere 191 in their first innings on Day 1 of the opening Test against Zimbabwe at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Bangladesh lost five wickets in a disastrous post-lunch session, with Zimbabwean left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza taking three wickets to leave the hosts stuttering on 154-7 at Tea break on Day 1 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque formed an unbeaten half-century partnership after both openers fell cheaply to take Bangladesh into Lunch break on 84-2 after 24 overs on Day 1 of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” for Bangladesh in Test cricket last year, as simultaneously they had their best ever year in Tests in abroad and the worse possible one at home.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said Zimbabwe will realise how lethal Nahid Rana can be when they face him in the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium beginning on Sunday.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons yesterday said that he does not want to smother Zimbabwe with spin, rather he wants to face them on a 'proper wicket' in the first Test in Sylhet starting on Sunday.

Zimbabwe’s veteran batter Sean Williams said that he and his side is not sweating too much over Bangladesh’s pace sensation Nahid Rana ahead of the two-Test series, saying they are prepared to face the speedster.

Bangladesh’s two-Test series against Zimbabwe is set to commence in Sylhet on Sunday at a time when fan interest on any sort of cricketing engagement between these two sides is arguably at an all-time low.

The Zimbabwe cricket team will arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday for a two-match Test series against hosts Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is struggling to sell the media rights for the upcoming home two-Test series against Zimbabwe as so far, no broadcaster nor marketing agents have shown interest.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed missed out while pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib earned a maiden call-up to the Test squad as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-man squad for the first Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe.

Cricketers began returning to Mirpur yesterday after the Eid holidays as teams started preparation for the resumption of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the itinerary for Bangladesh’s home Test series against Zimbabwe in April-May.

The Zimbabweans will arrive on 28 April and play the first match of the series on May 3 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal urged the young players in the squad to capitalise on the chances when they take on hosts Zimbabwe in the three-match ODI series, starting at the Harare Sports Club on Friday from 1:15pm (BST).