Zimbabwe and Bangladesh meet in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series between the two teams at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Friday, July 17. Bangladesh lost the first game of the series quite strangely and come here with a 0-1 lead in the series. This deficit will push the Bangla Tigers and give them hunger since they lost the Test and ODI series preceding it as well. Bangladesh’s pacers Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed impressed in the first match, and will be keen on recreating their form.
In the batting department, a lot will rest on how well Towhid Hridoy, Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim do for the visitors. For the home team, opener Brian Bennett top-scored with 44 in the first game, and he will be looked upon to get his side off to a good start yet again. Ryan Burl, who remained unbeaten on 30, will be handed the responsibility of shaping the middle order and building long-lasting partnerships. Skipper Sikandar Raza, despite scoring just 20, showed a lot of intent by hitting two boundaries and a six. His proactive nature will help the hosts.
Predicted Teams
ZIM: Brian Bennett,
Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk),
Dion Myers,
Sikandar Raza (c),
Ryan Burl,
Milton Shumba,
Clive Madande,
Tashinga Musekiwa,
Brad Evans,
Richard Ngarava,
Blessing Muzarabani.
BAN: Tanzid Hasan Tamim,
Saif Hassan,
Parvez Hossain Emon,
Towhid Hridoy (c),
Yasir Ali,
Nurul Hasan (wk),
Mahedi Hasan,
Mohammad Saifuddin,
Nasum Ahmed,
Taskin Ahmed,
Nahid Rana.
Key Players
Ryan Burl (ZIM): Ryan Burl is an exciting all-rounder who has repeatedly proven his worth for Zimbabwe. The left-handed batter scored an unbeaten 30 in the first game. He can also chip in with leg-break bowling when his captain needs him. Most importantly for the home team, Burl is known to build partnerships. Having sacrificed his dreams of playing county cricket in England, Burl remains one of the most senior pillars in the current Zimbabwe setup.
Nahid Rana (BAN): Tearaway fast bowler Nahid Rana is one of the most impressive players to come out of their stables in recent times. His consistency and his ability to hit the deck while also extracting movement make him dangerous. Rana is a handy customer for his captain Towhid Hridoy both with the new ball and at the death. The seam-friendly conditions in Zimbabwe will surely assist Rana.
Match Prediction
Bangladesh are the favourites to win. They have a more balanced outfit than Zimbabwe, and will be able to count upon their experienced players to deliver. The visiting side’s three-pronged pace bowling unit, led by Taskin Ahmed, will make things difficult for the hosts, especially with the new ball. Unless Zimbabwe conquer the battles in the middle overs, they will have very little to challenge Bangladesh with.
Bangladesh’s Tour of Zimbabwe Prediction and Preview – 3rd T20I (19.07.2026)
Zimbabwe, who have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, will look to make a clean sweep here on Sunday, July 19 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The home team have been extremely impressive against the Bangla Tigers. They also won the sole Test and three-game ODI series before coming into the shortest format of the sport. Captain Sikandar Raza will have a major role in rallying his troops against the Bangla Tigers in the third and final match.
Zimbabwe know these conditions well, and this is working in their favour. Bangladesh, however, have faltered largely because of their ineffective batting. In the first game of the series, they appeared well set on chasing a target of 171 down, but suffered from a terrible collapse. At one stage, they were comfortable at 130-5, but lost their next five wickets at the addition of just eight more runs. The visitors have to be more composed at the crease.
Predicted Teams
ZIM: Brian Bennett,
Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk),
Dion Myers,
Sikandar Raza (c),
Ryan Burl,
Milton Shumba,
Clive Madande,
Tashinga Musekiwa,
Brad Evans,
Richard Ngarava,
Blessing Muzarabani.
BAN: Tanzid Hasan Tamim,
Saif Hassan,
Parvez Hossain Emon,
Towhid Hridoy (c),
Yasir Ali,
Nurul Hasan (wk),
Mahedi Hasan,
Mohammad Saifuddin,
Nasum Ahmed,
Taskin Ahmed,
Nahid Rana.
Key Players
Sikandar Raza (ZIM): Sikandar Raza is Zimbabwe’s captain. The all-rounder is also one of the most reputed names in the world due to his abilities with both bat and ball. Raza also knows these Bangladeshi players well since he has played with and against them in franchise tournaments across the world. If Raza’s experience is used well by the home team, they will be able to sweep this series away from the Bangladeshis.
Saif Hassan (BAN): Opener Saif Hassan’s role has evolved from being simply an anchor for his colleague Tanzid Hasan Tamim. He has to take up the responsibility of building partnerships and shielding others from the new ball, too. In T20 cricket, both openers have to get going inside the power play so as to make use of the fielding restrictions. Hassan, therefore, needs to up the ante and take on risks.
Match Prediction
Zimbabwe appear unbeatable in this series. Bangladesh will have to dig deep within to find the resources to challenge the home team. Zimbabwe’s strength across all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding – takes them a notch above their visitors. Bangladesh, however, have a good pace bowling unit, and need to use this to good effect,
