DHAKA, July 17, 2026 (BSS) - Zimbabwe Captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and 
sent Bangladesh into bat first in the second T20 International at Queens 
Sports Club in Bulawayo today.

Bangladesh are looking to level the series after tasting a 32-run defeat in 
the first T20.

A defeat, however, would consign them into series defeat in all formats of 
cricket in the Zimbabwe tour.

Earlier, Bangladesh lost the one-off Test and the ODI series by 2-1 margin.

Despite losing the toss, Bangladesh skipper Towhid Hridoy revealed that he 
would have preferred to bat first had he won the toss.

He stressed the need for improved partnerships after his side's struggles as 
batting group in the previous match.

"I wanted to bat because all matches we are bowling first. We need to build 
more partnerships. It looks like a good wicket, but we have to bat well," 
Hridoy said.

Bangladesh made one change to their playing XI, bringing in leg-spinner 
Rishad Hossain in place of left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said the decision to bowl first was influenced 
by the moisture in the pitch, which he expected would provide early 
assistance to his pace bowlers.

"There's a bit more moisture today than the last game, so I feel like there 
will be early assistance for our bowlers," he said.

Zimbabwe, who won the first match in convincing fashion, retained the same 
XI.

Raza said his side was focused on continuing its progress rather than merely 
securing the series.

"We've been training really hard to upskill ourselves because world cricket 
is moving ahead. If we don't match that intensity and international 
standards, we could be left behind. The idea is to perform professionally and 
ruthlessly, whether we bat first or bowl first," he added.

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid 
Hridoy (captain), Nurul Hasan Sohan (wicketkeeper), Yasir Ali, Mahedi Hasan, 
Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wicketkeeper), Dion Myers, 
Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Milton Shumba, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad 
Evans, Clive Madande, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.