DHAKA: Having won the test cricket series, Bangladesh wants to compound Zimbabwe’s misery by achieving 5-0 ODI whitewash as the last match starts at 12:30pm Monday.
Though Zimbabwe lose a game, fight back harder in the next, but Bangladesh somehow just strive to stay on top. With nothing except pride and records to play for, both teams will look to make more use of their reserves.
Bangladesh have had a lot of positives from this series, starting right from Tamim and Anamul. Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan have been regular contributors, but the most eye-catching has been Mahmudullah's return to form.
Mominul Haque has been shifted around and rested, but his replacement Imrul Kayes failed to make most of the opportunity in the fourth ODI. Sabbir Rahman has scored on and off, so there will be expectations for him to finish well.
Arafat Sunny is no longer part of the squad, perhaps being prepared for the World Cup. Bangladesh have unsurprisingly been comfortable on the spinning front, but there is still scope for improvement from their seamers, as none apart from Al-Amin Hossain have been able to create an impression.
Soumya Sarkar is set to make his ODI debut but it is not certain if he will replace Imrul Kayes or Sabbir Rahman. Rubel Hossain may be rested to give Taijul Islam a chance, especially if Soumya is used as the third seamer after Mashrafe Mortaza and Abul Hasan.
Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Imrul Kayes/Mominul Haque, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Sabbir Rahman/Soumya Sarkar, 8 Abul Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Jubair Hossain
It has become quite tricky to predict the Zimbabwe line-up in this series. Richmond Mutumbami and Craig Ervine have not played a single game, while Elton Chigumbura has said Sikandar Raza's injured finger has improved. Timycen Maruma and Peter Moor have also struggled, so the visitors could make quite a few changes.
Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Timycen Maruma/Sikandar Raza, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Regis Chakabva/Craig Ervine, 6 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 7 Peter Moor (wk), 8 Solomon Mire, 9 Tendai Chatara, 10 Neville Madziva, 11 Tafadzwa Kamungozi.
BDST: 1110 HRS, DEC 01, 2014
