Hridoy hopes for a fresh start in T20Is after disappointing tour

Bangladesh interim T20I skipper Towhid Hridoy said Tuesday they are eyeing a fresh start after a disappointing Zimbabwe tour, as they prepare for the three-match T20I series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting July 15.

Bangladesh arrived in Bulawayo following a frustrating campaign in Harare, losing the one-off Test by an innings and 85 runs, then going down 2-1 in the ODI series. The tourists avoided a clean sweep with a convincing final ODI win and hope to carry that momentum into the T20I leg.

Hridoy, who made his captaincy debut against Australia, will again lead the side without regular T20I captain Litton Das, granted leave for the Lanka Premier League. Litton is also recovering from a calf injury that ruled him out of the home T20I series against Australia and the Zimbabwe tour. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman remains unavailable after a hamstring injury during the first ODI.

Towhid remained optimistic about the format change. "It's a different format and venue, so if we play good cricket, hopefully we will get the result. In home conditions, Zimbabwe is a good team. We know our strength and will bounce back from mistakes. We have a strong side and if we maintain our tempo, we will get results. We will try to take the momentum early," he said ahead of the series opener.

He added they are taking it one game at a time. "Everything has a process. It's wise to think about one match at a time. Conditions are very different here, it's cold, and the wicket and opposition make it a different challenge. Adapting will be important."

The second and third T20Is are on July 17 and 19 at the same venue.