Why Bangladesh Should Prefer Zimbabwe Tour?

After white washing touring Zimbabwe in test series, Bangladesh Cricket is set to launch mission ODI white wash from today. The relative strength of the teams on present form supports such optimism .But the name of game is cricket where forecasting can make one fool very easily .But anyway attention is slowing shifting and focusing on more important ICC World Cup 2015 scheduled to start in Australia and New Zealand from mid-February 2015 .There are media news of Bangladesh having been offered to appear in a tournament featuring ICC associate members qualifiers UAE, Scotland, Ireland and Afghanistan in UAE. Bangladesh has also been offered to visit Zimbabwe and play few ODIs before moving to Australia. Given the time that is available after the ODI series and ICC world Cup Bangladesh has to opt for one not both. What should Bangladesh do?

Let us see what is happening elsewhere? What the other ICC full members doing as for preparation for World Cup? South Africa is now playing a 5 match ODI series in Australia. Their 4^th ODI will be played at MCG this afternoon. Then South Africa will host West Indies. New Zealand is playing test series against Pakistan in UAE after which they will play ODI series. England is going to Sri Lanka and after the tour England –India –Australia will play triangular ODI series in Australia .When eight other full member countries will be playing with one another as preparation for World Cup why Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have to play with associate members qualifiers? UAE wickets do not have the same pace or bounce as of New Zealand and Australia .Moreover; all associate member countries are fresh from extensive preparation in down under.

Any slippage of Bangladesh against Ireland or Afghanistan will hurt them badly. Strategically it would be much better visiting Zimbabwe and play a series against them on bouncy wickets. The teams are of almost similar strength and in ODI at Zimbabwe they will be far more competitive. A keen tussle will bring the best out of both teams. Moreover, Zimbabwe will be desperate to avenge the defeat here and will leave nothing unturned to reverse the tide . Any result of the series won’t cause much damage as anything can happen in the dog fight of two dogs of same strength and status.

That will be far better preparation .Alternately Bangladesh can negotiate a couple of matches with State teams of Australia moving there a few weeks ahead of World Cup.

We hope BCB will not take any hurried decision and think deep before accepting ICC proposal for playing in UAE. Playing against ICC associate qualifiers may be a dress rehearsal by ICC for the much talked about Inter Continental Cup and as has been already said any reverse will cause huge psychological damage for Bangladesh for the mission World Cup.