Ahead of the series opener, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence in his team's preparation, saying the extended stay in Zimbabwe has helped the players adapt well to the conditions and left them ready for the challenge.
While Bangladesh's white-ball squad was busy hosting Australia, the Test specialists travelled to Zimbabwe early to maximize their preparation time. According to Shanto, that decision has helped the team settle into the unfamiliar conditions.
"We arrived here several days ago, so we've adapted quite well. I believe we're fully prepared for the Test match now. A few players joined later, but after training over the past few days, they've also adjusted well. I don't think adapting to the conditions will be a major issue during the match," Shanto said in a video released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The Bangladesh skipper expressed satisfaction with the team's preparations despite limited facilities.
"We've had good preparation. We tried to make the best use of whatever facilities were available here. Everyone is confident. We've been playing good cricket in our recent bilateral series, and I believe we can produce a strong performance in this Test as well," he added.
The two teams last met in a Test series in 2025, where Zimbabwe stunned Bangladesh by winning the opening Test before the Tigers bounced back to level the series 1-1. Bangladesh now have the chance to gain revenge by defeating Zimbabwe on their home soil.
Shanto stressed that performing well in this Test is important not only for the series itself but also for the challenges that lie ahead.
"We aim to win the match and play good cricket. We have several away series coming up after this, so we need to perform well here. If both our batters and bowlers do well, it will boost our confidence heading into those upcoming tours. Our focus is on playing the best cricket we can," he said.
