Mashrafe warns Bangladesh of Zimbabwe backlash

While some of the Bangladeshi cricketers gave an impression that it would be easier to inflict a whitewash on Zimbabwe, captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza doesn't want to take anything for granted.

Mashrafe said Bangladesh should take it match by match rather thinking of whitewash right at the moment.

Even though he believes, Bangladesh has the capability to sweep the three-match series, the captain said, Zimbabwe is also here to beat the hosts and they won't let them make it a cake-walk.

"Yes we have won consistently against them but if you notice, you will see some of the matches were very close. And they could have won it. So when they are close, it means they are able to beat us in this format," Mashrafe said before the first ODI, which takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

"In International cricket, no opponents are easier. I believe Zimbabwe have the ability to beat us, so we should be very careful."

Bangladesh never lost any ODI match to Zimbabwe since 2013. In this period, they played 13 matches against them and won all of the matches. They also inflicted whitewash on the Southern African opponents for the last three series including a five-match series in 2014.

Mashrafe said what is important is to start the series well by winning the first game.

"As I said earlier, we have to come up with all guns blazing right from the start. The start is in fact very important. We will obviously go match by match. We want to win the first match first and then we'll think about the second and then if we can win that too, we will obviously go for sweeping the series. Right at this moment, it is absolutely not correct to say that we'll whitewash them. They are also here to beat us," he remarked.

Moreover, this will be Bangladesh's first ODI series since July 2019 and so there is a question of discomfort playing this format after so long time.  

Mashrafe admits of some discomfort but insisted once they would start well, they will be back to their groove.

"There will be some sign of discomfort as we will play this format after so long time. But we can overcome it by starting well. Whatever we do-be it batting or bowling, we have to make a good beginning. If the beginning is good, the discomfort will be quelled," he said.

The captain thinks that the pressure will be on Bangladesh, considering the fact that a defeat against Zimbabwe won't be accepted by the cricket fraternity here.

"If we win against Zimbabwe, it won't be discussed because it is expected but if we lose any match against them, we'll be more criticized, so we have to be careful in every step," he concluded.