Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and chose to bowl first against Zimbabwe in the first One Day International at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
The decision was based on the pitch conditions, which had grass cover and moisture, along with overcast skies that were expected to aid fast bowlers early on.
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Bangladesh entered the match with momentum from four consecutive series victories and aimed to exploit the early conditions before the surface became better for batting.
"We want to bowl first.
There is a little bit of moisture and we want to take advantage of it," Miraz said at the toss.
He emphasized the need for partnerships from the top-order batsmen and called the opportunity a great one for every batter.
"The wickets looks good.
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If we play well, definitely it will be better," he added, noting that the team's recent success has boosted confidence but they must adapt to the new ground and conditions.
Zimbabwe welcomed back experienced player Sikandar Raza as they transitioned from Test cricket to the 50-over format.
"Not really.
I feel like the team is prepared and all the batters are quite prepared to take on whatever comes our way," said Zimbabwe captain Richard Ngarava.
He acknowledged the need for adjustments from Test cricket but expressed satisfaction with the team's proactive approach.
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At the time of reporting, Zimbabwe had reached 91 runs for the loss of eight wickets after 24.6 overs, struggling against the Bangladeshi bowling attack.
