Last batch of Bangladesh team depart for Zimbabwe
Published: 07:37 AM, 26 June 2026
Taskin cautions Bangladesh over demanding Zimbabwe tour
The last batch of Bangladesh team departed for Zimbabwe on Wednesday as the national team completed its travel arrangements for the upcoming white-ball series and one-off Test match.
The first batch had already reached Zimbabwe.
The players left Dhaka on a flight at 2PM as part of the second group travelling to Zimbabwe. A total of 12 members, including players and support staff, were on board the flight.
The players included the likes of Towhid Hridoy, Amite Hasan, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rabiul Haque who were on board with the last batch.
Members of the coaching staff also travelled with this group. Rabiul earned a call-up to the national squad after missing out on selection for the previous Test series against Pakistan.
Bangladesh have opted to rest several key players for the Zimbabwe tour. Captain Liton Das, vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, pace sensation Nahid Rana and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed have all been left out of the squad.
Meanwhile, pacers Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed have returned to the national setup for the tour.
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed believes the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe will be a huge challenging assignment for the national team, citing the difficulty of playing in Zimbabwean conditions and the pressure that comes with facing a lower-ranked opponent.
Bangladesh are set to tour Zimbabwe for a one-off Test, three ODIs as many T20 internationals following their recent white-ball series against Australia.
Speaking to reporters, Taskin said the Zimbabwe series would bring added pressure because any poor performance against the hosts would draw criticism despite Zimbabwe's strong record at home.
"Every day in life is a challenge. Every series is challenging. The Zimbabwe series coming up is even more stressful because they are playing in their own conditions. If we do badly against them, people will simply say we played badly against Zimbabwe," Taskin said.
The pace bowler stressed that Bangladesh's players are well aware of the challenge posed by Zimbabwe on home soil and warned against underestimating the hosts.
"The players know, and we know, how difficult it is to go to Zimbabwe and beat them in their conditions," Taskin who was rested from the one-off Test against Zimbabwe added.
Bangladesh head into the tour after a mixed series against Australia. Although Bangladesh secured a historic ODI series victory, later they were whitewashed 3-0 in the T20 series.
Taskin described such fluctuations as part of sport and insisted that no international assignment should be considered easy.
"Recently we won the ODI series against Australia, but unfortunately we lost the T20 series. Every series is challenging for us. Even tape-tennis cricket is challenging. The game is never easy," he said.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-off Test and a white-ball series during their visit to Zimbabwe as the team continues preparations for a busy international calendar.
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mahedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Amite Hasan, Rabiul Haque.
