Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011052881800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Bangladesh meets Zimbabwe in opener

DHAKA: Having now played together for four years, Zimbabwe is a far tougher proposition than they used to be, Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful said on Friday.

“The players of this team (Zimbabwe) have been together for four years, they are now a much stronger side,” Ashraful said ahead of the start of a triangular one-day internationals series which begins on Saturday between Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

However, Ashraful remains confident of his team’s chances.

“We can beat any team, not only Zimbabwe, if we can play our best,” Ashraful said.

The teams (from):

Zimbabwe: Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Ray Price, Sean Williams, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Keith Dabengwa, Ed Rainsford, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa and Malcolm Waller.

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Rokibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahbubul Alam, Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Enamul Haque.