Big picture
Since 2025, Zimbabwe have played 10 Tests. Five of those have come against New Zealand, South Africa and England combined, oppositions whom Zimbabwe had last faced in 2016, 2017 and 2003, respectively.
But while Zimbabwe have played plenty of Tests in the last one-and-a-half years, they continue to be deprived of facing higher-ranked teams more often and also of being part of the WTC. However, Zimbabwe, along with Ireland and Afghanistan, could be part of an expanded WTC cycle from 2027 onwards. The next cycle could also feature one-off Tests, which these teams usually play.
Zimbabwe are about to play their sixth one-off Test when they host Bangladesh in Harare from Sunday, for which they've recalled 39-year-old legspinner Graeme Cremer, who last played a Test in 2017. Zimbabwe will also have a new captain in Richard Ngarava, who took over from Craig Ervine last December.
Ngarava has leadership experience of only four T20s as he prepares to captain against a confident and rising Bangladesh team. Bangladesh won none of their seven games in the inaugural WTC cycle in 2019-21, but they've emerged as one of the most improved sides since. In the 2021-23 cycle, Bangladesh beat New Zealand in Mount Maunganui; in 2023-25, they beat New Zealand in Sylhet, clean-swept Pakistan 2-0 away, and trumped West Indies in Kingston. Now, in the 2025-27 cycle, Bangladesh tour Zimbabwe after again beating Pakistan 2-0 - this time at home.
Despite the familiarity with the opposition, Bangladesh will be wary of Zimbabwe, who beat them in the Sylhet Test last year. In this non-WTC fixture, Zimbabwe get another opportunity to prove themselves as worthy competitors.
Form guide
Zimbabwe: WLLLL (Last five matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: WWWWL
In the spotlight - Shanto and Muzarabani
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's improved numbers are a big reason behind his side's recent rise. In 66 innings until 2024, Shanto averaged just 29.06; but since 2025, he averages 64.10 in 11 innings. He has passed fifty five times in this period and went on to convert them into a century four times. Shanto has batted at No. 4 all this while, thus hinting at a stability in the Bangladesh line-up. He will now hope to continue with that momentum before he leads Bangladesh to a much tougher assignment in Australia in August.
Among the nine Zimbabwe bowlers to have taken at least 50 Test wickets, Blessing Muzarabani has the best average, of 26.20. He has played in 18 of Zimbabwe's 25 Tests since his debut in December 2017, and has established himself as one of the most dependable members of the side. And although T20 cricket is an entirely different ball game to Tests, Muzarabani will look to carry the confidence of a successful T20 World Cup, the last time Zimbabwe were in action, into the Bangladesh series.
Team news - Nayeem fit
Zimbabwe will be without Sikandar Raza, who has been granted permission to play in the T20 Blast in England. In his absence, the role of the spin-bowling allrounder could go to either Cremer or left-arm spinner Wessly Madhevere.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Tadiwanashe Marumani, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 7 Graeme Cremer/Wessly Madhevere, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Richard Ngarava (capt), 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Tanaka Chivanga
Shadman Islam is likely to return to the XI after missing the second Test against Pakistan. Mahidul Islam should keep wicket in place of the injured Litton Das, while Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed could replace the rested Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed. Nayeem Hasan, who was allegedly assaulted by police two weeks ago, is fit to play, and will replace Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is also rested.
Bangladesh: 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mahidul Islam (wk), 7 Nayeem Hasan, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain
Pitch and conditions
The Harare Sports Club has generally offered slow surfaces. It has hosted only one Test in the last five years, so it could be difficult to ascertain how the pitch plays out over the next five days. The weather is expected to be on the cooler side with no chance of rain.
Stats and trivia
The last time Bangladesh played a Test without both Litton and Mehidy in their side was back in May 2015, when neither of them had made their debuts.
Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe for the first time in Tests in their seventh attempt, in January 2005. Cremer and Brendan Taylor, who are set to take the park on Sunday, are the only active internationals from that game.
Four more wickets will take Muzarabani up to No. 3 on Zimbabwe's all-time leading wicket-takers' list.
