KHULNA, Bangladesh (AP) With the World Twenty20 in mind, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are looking to settle their lineups in their four-match Twenty20 series starting on Friday.
A test match was supposed to be included in the tour, but both boards reached consensus to drop it in order to engage the players in continuous T20 cricket ahead of the World T20 in India in March.
''This is the only opportunity,'' Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said. ''If we want to see something we have to see it here, because after this we have the Asia Cup which is a big tournament and after that we have the World T20.''
Bangladesh has called up three players to make their national team debuts in the 14-man squad announced for the first two T20s.
''In this format, we have a lot to see and learn,'' Mortaza said. ''The first target is obviously a win. But then again there are issues like combination which we need to focus on. We may get a result, or we may not.''
Bangladesh has won only 13 times in 46 T20s, and lost to Zimbabwe in its last T20 of 2015 to draw that series.
''We have to do something different,'' Mortaza said. ''We have to examine (the new players) considering the tournaments up ahead, so that we can come out of the struggles in this format.''
Zimbabwe was swept 2-0 by Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates recently, and also lost the one-day international series to the Afghans 3-2.
With senior players such as Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams back, they hope to turn things around.
''In the next four games, you won't be shocked to see different guys batting in different batting positions,'' Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said. ''It is going to be mainly for preparation for the World T20. At the same time, we have to play good cricket.''
