Goodwill Zunidza, Harare
Bangladesh suffered a body blow in their bid to overturn Zimbabwe’s lead in Tuesday’s final T20 clash at Harare Sports Club after captain Nurul Hossai Sohan withdrew from the visiting side.
Team medics ruled Sohan out of any further action in the series, with a suspected broken middle finger on his left hand.
The 28-year old top-scored for the Tigers after amassing 42 runs off 26 balls in the T20 opener on 30 July although the Chevrons ultimately won the tie by 17 runs.
He starred again with imperious resiliency the following day courtesy of some breath-taking catches as the visitors equalled the statistics with a seven-wicket upset victory.
His absence leaves Bangladesh without their fiercest batsman among the 19 players who made the trip from Dhaka, as the two sides now angle for the decider on 2 August.
Muhammad Joubert, a senior Bangladeshi sports journalist who is touring with his compatriots, agonized over the loss of Sohan which will doubtlessly unsettle the team formation.
‘Nurul has been achieving some high marks on the domestic front where no wicketkeeper comes close to him in statistics,” said Jubair.
“This is the first time he has played for the national team on a continuous basis as he tended to be in and out of form before hitting terrific consistency beginning of this year.”
The Asians’ South African coach Russell Domingo has resultantly shuffled his team, bringing in Mosaddek at Number 6 in the batting order to replace the injured skipper.
Zimbabwe had a rest day on Monday while their opponents trained in the afternoon.
Bangladesh final line-up for 3rd T20 vs Zimbabwe:
Itton, Parvez, Anamul, Santo, Afif, Mossadek, Munim, Nasum, Fizz, Hassan and Mehedi.Zimbabwe probable line-up: Burl, Chakabva, Chivanga,
C Ervine, Jongwe, Kaia, Madhevere, Marumani, Masakadza, Munyonga, Ngarava
