Zimbabwe Take on Bangladesh in Lightweights Battle

Harare: Zimbabwe and Bangladesh begin Test cricket's basement battle on Wednesday as the two teams look to measure their personal progress in a two-match series.

Although Zimbabwe have never lost a Test on home soil against Bangladesh, and beat them by 130 runs when the two sides last faced off in 2011, they come into this series dispirited after two heavy defeats in the West Indies and another player contract crisis.

By contrast, Bangladesh enjoyed an encouraging tour of Sri Lanka recently, when they posted their highest ever Test score and showed welcome signs of improvement.

The importance of the two Tests for cricket's lowliest teams should not be underestimated.

Zimbabwe's off-field problems have not helped them in this regard, with non-contracted players recently staging a two-day strike over poor pay.

Although the issue was resolved by the heavily-indebted board, the hosts will be without batsman Craig Ervine after he took up a deal to play club cricket in Ireland.

Zimbabwe will also be without fast bowler Christopher Mpofu, wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva and opening batsman Tino Mawoyo because of injury, meaning wicketkeeper-batsman Richmond Mutumbani could make his international debut.

Meanwhile Bangladesh will welcome all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan back from injury, although he is likely to play the first Test only as a batsman.

Tamim Iqbal is rated a "50-50" chance of playing as he recovers from a broken thumb, but otherwise Bangladesh have a first-choice squad to pick from.

Teams from

Zimbabwe BRM Taylor (captain & wk), TL Chatara, E Chigumbura, MT Chinouya, AG Cremer, KM Jarvis, T Maruma, H Masakadza, SW Masakadza, KO Meth, N Mushangwe, TC Mutombodzi, R Mutumbami (wk), RW Price, V Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, P Utseya, BV Vitori, MN Waller, SC Williams

Bangladesh Mushfiqur Rahim (captain & wk), Enamul Haque jnr, Jahurul Islam, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Sajidul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Sohag Gazi, Tamim Iqbal

Pitch and conditions
The pitch is not considered to be too lively, because of the mild weather conditions during this time of the year. It has good, fairly consistent carry, and is likely to be flat.

Stats and trivia

• This will be only the second Test at the Harare Sports Club in the month of April. The previous occasion was in 2001, also against Bangladesh
• Out of three Bangladesh captains to tour Zimbabwe, Naimur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan lost their jobs after losing Test series there

Match facts
April 17-21, 2013
Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)