International Test Cricket: Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe 7/7/21 Cricket Prediction

Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe starts tomorrow with their one off Test match being played at Harare in Zimbabwe. The match will start on Wednesday July 7th, 2021 at 3:30am EST. 

This Test match will give both teams a chance to find a winning formula after losing their last test series, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka while Zimbabwe lost to Pakistan. The pitch in Harare usually provides just enough for both the batsmen and bowlers, patience along with application will be paramount in gaining the win at the end of the match. If the weather isn’t an issue, and it shouldn’t be, this should be a very close and interesting contest.

Bangladesh see the return of their talisman Shakib Al Hasan who opted out of the Sri Lanka test series to play in the IPL. He (Shakib) will be even more influential in his return as Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s opening batsman, may be unavailable. Bangladesh is in the Test championship and although this match wouldn’t do much in their ascendency, they will be looking to string together solid performances in all 3 departments within the next 5 days to get some type of momentum after losing three of their four tests this year.

Zimbabwe will be without Sean Williams and Craig Ervine after they came into contact with Covid-19 positive family members, they will be self-isolating during the match. Brendan Taylor will be the stand-in captain for Zimbabwe but he is no stranger to the post, they will need all of his experience if they are to cause any threat to the Bangladeshi side who, on paper, are a much stronger team. Zimbabwe will have home-court advantage on their side and will seek to take first blood on this tour.

It may seem that there is not much to play for here, but pride and ego will be on a high despite not much buzz leading up to this match but it will be a sight to behold no doubt when both teams clash tomorrow morning. Zimbabwe have won games in the past that many believe they shouldn’t have but they have the fight, however, I expect Bangladesh to win this match on the back of an all-round performance by Shakib Al Hasan. They are the higher ranked team and have a recent history of competing with the top teams, so I expect them to have too much firepower for the Zimbabwe team to handle.