Dhaka: Bangladesh have win the toss and elected to bat first against Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh are taking on visiting Zimbabwe in the first ODI of a three-match day-night series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The match is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm Bangladesh time and the Tigers’ fans have already known that they are going to miss the displays from dashing opener Tamim Iqbal and talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the series as both are sidelined from squad due to injury, reports the UNB.

Despite not having two senior dependable players, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza expressed optimism before the start of the series as he said, ‘We are confident. We hope for the win.’

The inspirational captain informed that his boys took preparation in a way that they can cover the gap what shaped in absence of Tamim and Shakib.

‘It is known to all that Tamim and Shakib will not with us. So, we have preparation to face the challenges without them,’ Mashrafe was talking at pre-match press conference at the match venue on Saturday.

Mashrafe assured to form the best possible eleven and hopped the boys, who will get chance into eleven, will have opportunities to prove themselves through the series before the World Cup 2019.

‘Since it is Mirpur, it is tough to predict how it will play. We are not expecting the wicket [pitch] to be slow or with turn right from the start. We are hoping for a good wicket,’ said Mashrafe replying to a query. According to Mashrafe, the score range from 250 to 260 can be defendable against Zimbabwe at Mirpur ground.

Bangladesh: 1 Liton Das, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Fazle Mahmud, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Nazmul Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.

Zimbabwe: 1 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 2 Cephas Zhuwao, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Peter Moor, 7 Sikandar Raza, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Brandon Mavuta, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Tendai Chatara.