After winning the toss three times in a row against Bangladesh in Harare, Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine elected to bat. Bangladesh made three changes: Mahmudullah replaced Nurul Hasan as was expected, while Shoriful Islam and Munim Shahriar were swapped out for Nasum Ahmed and rookie Parvez Hossain Emon, respectively.

Legspinner John Masara was playing in his first T20I, and the hosts replaced Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, and Tanaka Chivanga with the fast bowlers Victor Nyauchi and Brad Evans.

In the 48 hours running up to this game, the visitors had a busy schedule. First, they lost their captain Nurul Hasan to a finger injury, with the team physio estimating a three-week absence.

The larger shock came when Mahmudullah was announced as Nurul’s successor in the T20I team after the latter was “resting” along with other veteran players including Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan from the T20I side. Mahmudullah returned straight away to the T20I team despite already being in Harare as a member of the ODI squad.

An aggressive left-hand opener making his debut, Emon was a key player in Bangladesh’s victory in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. In the next year’s Bangabandhu Cup, he went on to score the nation’s quickest T20 century.

The larger shock came when Mahmudullah was announced as Nurul’s successor in the T20I team after the latter was “resting” along with other veteran players including Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan from the T20I side. Mahmudullah returned straight away to the T20I team despite already being in Harare as a member of the ODI squad.

An aggressive left-hand opener making his debut, Emon was a key player in Bangladesh’s victory in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. In the next year’s Bangabandhu Cup, he went on to score the nation’s quickest T20 century.

Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva is Zimbabwe’s starting pitcher, followed by Craig Ervine as captain, Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza. Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, John Masara, Victor Nyauchi, and Brad Evans are the remaining five.

Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, and Mahmudullah are Bangladesh’s top four scorers. The fifth Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain 6, Mosaddek Hossain (7) (capt), Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, and Mahedi Hasan are the other four.