Sri Lanka's white ball series against Zimbabwe starting at the weekend is a chance for the team to show improvement after last year's dismal World Cup campaign, skipper Kusal Mendis said Friday (Jan 5). Mendis led the team to a second-from-bottom placing at the World Cup, after captain Dasun Shanaka withdrew injured, finishing ahead only of the Netherlands.  Appointed one-day captain this week, Mendis said the team had trained intensely to bolster their fielding, after 16 catches were dropped in India.    "Fielding is one area that we have worked really hard during the last two weeks. It was a big letdown for us during the World Cup," he said. "It was bitterly disappointing. We could have fared better in the World Cup had we been more disciplined on the field," he added.  "I can promise you that there's been a lot of hard work and you can see the results in this upcoming series." Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will play three ODIs starting Saturday followed by three T20 fixtures, all in Colombo.    The one-day matches form part of the Super League that will determine qualification for the next ODI World Cup, in southern Africa in 2027. The past two World Cups were restricted to 10 teams, meaning two-time champions West Indies missed out on the Id=ndia showpiece.  Eleventh-ranked Zimbabwe also missed the last two tournaments, after attending every World Cup from 1983 to 2015, and captain Craig Ervine welcomed plans to accommodate more teams in the next edition.   "It is hugely important that more teams compete in global events such as World Cups. It's better for cricket," he said. "Teams like us don't get to play top teams like India, Australia and England often and events like the World Cup are the only occasion we get to compete against the best."

Former Zimbabwe captain and Bangladeshi Bowling Coach Heath Streak has died at the age of 49. His former team mate Henry Olonga confirmed the matter on messaging platform X on Tuesday.  He had been undergoing treatment for cancer.  In his career, the All-rounder took 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 tests between 1993-2005.  He also played in 189 ODI (one-day internationals), scored 2,943 runs and took 239 wickets.

The "Patriotic Bill" criminalizes comments that damage "the national interest of Zimbabwe." The move comes just months before the next election. Lawmakers in Zimbabwe passed a controversial bill late on Wednesday that outlaws criticism of the country's government. The bill, which is due to be signed into law soon by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has sparked fears of a potential crackdown on dissent.  The bill was passed just hours after the government announced that parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on August 23 this year, with Mnangagwa seeking to secure a second term. What is the 'Patriotic Bill?' Much of the outcry over the so-called "Patriotic Bill" stems from one clause that criminalizes acts that damage "the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe." In severe cases, those found guilty could face up to 20 years in prison, news agency AFP reported. Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party have defended the bill, saying it encourages the country's over 15 million inhabitants to be "patriotic." "This bill is not meant to curtail the existence of political parties but it is there to encourage the people of Zimbabwe to love their country and stop denouncing it," ZANU-PF lawmaker Joseph Chinotimba told Parliament. How has the opposition reacted? Rights groups, activists and opposition politicians sounded the alarm over the bill's passage, saying it aims to ban any criticism of the government in the southern African nation. They warn that the clause will be used to punish civil society organizations, citizens and political parties that oppose the ZANU-PF party. "Free speech is now dead," journalist and activist Hopewell Chin'ono wrote on Twitter, adding it was "a very sad day for Zimbabwe." A spokesperson for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) described the bill as "dangerous." "ZANU-PF has reduced our great nation into an outpost of tyranny," CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere told Reuters news agency. What happens next? Now that the bill has been passed by Zimbabwe's lower house, the National Assembly, it will go to the Senate for approval. President Mnangagwa is expected to then sign it into law. The 80-year-old leader replaced Zimbabwe's strongman ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017 following a military-led coup. His primary challenger is the head of the CCC, Nelson Chamisa. The 45-year-old is a lawyer and a pastor, who narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in elections in 2018. Rights groups are bracing for the impact of the new bill to hit as campaigning intensifies ahead of elections this August. "This bill is the most draconian law that we have seen in Zimbabwe," the head of the Human Rights NGO Forum, Musa Kika told AFP.

A total of 4,270 inmates would be let out of Zimbabwe's prisons over the weekend thanks to a pardon from President Emmerson Mnangagwa. It comes ahead of general elections later this year. President Emmerson Mnangagwa decided to pardon about a fifth of all prisoners in Zimbabwe just a few weeks before the elections. The release of 4,270 inmates began on Friday and was expected to be completed by Monday, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said. Ostensibly, the move addressed overcrowding in the country's 55 prisons, which previously held over 22,000 people despite a capacity of around 17,000. "We would like to appeal to... society at large to embrace and accept the inmates who have been released," Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) said in a statement. 'Noble gesture by the president' The amnesty applied to prisoners who had served three-quarters of their sentence and excluded violent criminals and those convicted of robbery, treason, and public order offenses. Those released are eligible to vote in the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for July or August. However, a date still needs to be set. The justice minister denied that the pardon had anything to do with the upcoming vote. Ziyambi described it as "merely a noble gesture by the president." President Mnangagwa is seeking a second five-year term.

Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi met with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa where both the leaders spoke of cooperation in expanding their partnership to a new high, reports said. During the meet which was held on July 4, Jiechi appreciated “Zimbabwe’s important role in promoting China-Africa cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and stands ready to further strengthen all-dimensional exchanges with Zimbabwe, be it party to party, government to government, military to military and people to people levels, and conduct in-depth exchanges of governance experience with Zimbabwe.” As per observers, China is using Zimbabwe as a key strategic location in to spread its influence in southern Africa. Beijing is also trying to promote Zimbabwe at the international forum. China said that it is ready to fully coordinate its position with Zimbabwe on “multilateral affairs, jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and make the global governance system more just and equitable,” reported China Daily. The two sides have deepened mutual political trust and consolidated cooperation in various fields, said Yang. Yang stressed the two parties trust and support each other, laying an important political foundation for the all-weather friendship between China and Zimbabwe. The impact of Chinese loans in Africa is far more complex than it is often portrayed. Online research paper, IJSER reported that some scholars argue that Chinese loans have created a debt trap in Africa, and China is leveraging on the debt trap to strategically penetrate Africa’s political landscape. China has recently emerged as a major lender in more than 32 African countries including Angola (USD 21.5 billion in 2017), Ethiopia (USD 13.7 billion), Kenya (USD 9.8 billion), Republic of Congo (USD 7.42 billion), Cameroon (USD 5.57 billion)1and Zambia reaching USD 11.2 billion in 2019. There is the contention that Chinese loans to Africa primarily provide business and employment opportunities for Chinese citizens and contractors to work overseas. This is because China often imposes most of the loans on infrastructure development in Africa. The imposition is always in favour of Chinese companies which are mostly ‘state-owned enterprises’, in order to boost “China’s Going Out strategy” which maintains Chinese companies as contractors of various projects that are financed by Chinese loans, reported IJSER. The companies, therefore, create employment opportunities for Chinese citizens in Africa. It feels like China gives out money with one hand and collects it back with another hand. China is executing a modern form of colonialism at Africa’s expense in order to enable her to become a global player. China deploys troops to Africa in order to meet its mineral and oil needs. Source: ANI

Soumya Sarkar came up with scintillating allround performance as Bangladesh chased down a mammoth 194-run target with incredibly ease to snatch a five-wicket victory and thereby won the three-match T20 International series by 2-1 at Harare Sports Club today. By winning the last match of the tour, the Tigers completed a hattrick of series win against Zimbabwe. The visitors won the one-off Test and whitewashed Zimbabwe in three-match ODI series before sealing 2-1 win in T20 series. The only defeat came in the second T20, which gave Zimbabwe a chance to win the series. But the hosts’ aspiration was not fulfilled despite compiling a hefty 193-5 as Bangladesh gunned down the total with four balls to spare. Soumya Sarkar led the charge with 2-19 in bowling before hammering a terrific 49-ball 68. Bangladesh though lost opener Naim Sheikh (3) cheaply, Soumya stood tall against the adversities and kept the side in a position of dominance. Soumya Sarkar’s sublime 49-ball 68 included nine fours and one six. It was his second half-century in the series. While Soumya played the match defining knock, he was ably supported by Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, who batted aggressively to keep the asking run rate always under control. Shakib struck two fours and one six in his 13-ball 25 while Mahmudullah hit 34 off 28 with two fours and one six before being out in the 19th over. Mahmudullah’s dismissal gave Bangladesh a shock but youngster Shamim Patwari, playing only his second match, sailed the side home with an unbeaten 31 off 15, cracking six boundaries. Afif Hossain was the other notable scorer with 14 off just 5, clobbering two sixes. Opener Wessley Madhevere gave Zimbabwe a flying start along with Tadiwanashe Marumani after captain Sikandar Raza decided to bat for the third time in a row in the series. They shared 63 runs in just six overs before Marumani fell for 27. But Madhevere sent the ball across the rope for six times to hit 54 off 35. While Madhevere gave the platform, Regis Chakabva whacked Bangladesh bowler sin style to clatter 48 off just 22 as he smote six towering sixes. Ryan Burl gave the finishing touch, making an unbeaten 31 off 15 with three fours and two sixes. While Soumya bagged 2-19, Shakib, Saifuddin and Shoriful took one wicket apiece for Bangladesh. Source: BSS AH

Shakib Al Hasan came up with sensational allround performance as Bangladesh wrapped up the three-match series with a hard-fought three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second game on Sunday at Harare Sports Club.   Returning to the form with willow at the time emergency, the ace allrounder fashioned the victory single handedly. Shakib, who was going through a patchy batting form since his return to the International cricket following a ban imposed by ICC, struck an excellent unbeaten 96 runs knock to steer Bangladesh to win after the Tigers were in cornered state.   Thanks to his knock, Bangladesh overhauled Zimbabwe's 240-9, making 242-7 in 49.1 overs with Shakib fittingly bringing the victory with a boundary through third man. Shakib struck eight boundaries in his 109- ball 96 not out.   In addition, he also took 2-42, following his 5-30 in the first match.   Bangladesh though made a good start in pursuit of the chase, tasted a top order collapse like the first ODI and were reduced to 75-4. Zimbabwe bowlers indeed made regular intervals but Shakib kept Bangladesh in the game always.   Zimbabwe fast bowler luke Jongwe broke through with the wicket of Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal for 20 after he and Liton Das added 39 runs in the opening stand.   Shakib then came to the crease but saw Liton, the centurion of the first match, was dismissed on 21 after getting set.   Mohammad Mithun (2) perished to a Jongwe delivery before Mosaddek Hossain Saikat was trapped run out for 5.   With 75-4, Zimbabwe, for whom it was a do or die match to keep the series alive, sensed a victory.   Shakib and Mahmudullah then shared 55-run for the fifth wicket stand to tilt the match towards Bangladesh. However Zimbabwe again came back in the match when Mahmudullah threw his wicket for 26 against a modest delivery of Blessing Muzurabani.   Like Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also played a reckless shot to gift his wicket for 6 and left Bangladesh in severe trouble.    Shakib however held his nerve and snatched the victory for Bangladesh from the jaws of the defeat, accompanied by firstly Afif Hossain (15) and later Mohammad Saifuddin, who was not out on 28.    Shakib's excellent performance however put a shed on fast bowler Shoriful Islam who registered his career-best 4-46 to help Bangladesh restrict Zimbabwe in a moderate total.   Shoriful's four-for was complemented by Shakib Al Hasan's 2-42 while Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one wicket apiece.   Taskin gave the side a breakthrough, dismissing opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for 1 in the first over as Zimbabwe decided to bat first after winning the toss.   Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was out of the ground due to injury after bowling 7.2 overs, then reduced Zimbabwe to 33-2, getting the better of another opener Tadiwanashe Marumani.   But the resistance came from captain Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakabva who shared 47-run for the third wicket before Shakib appeared in the stage and rattled the stump of Chakabva who made 26.    Shoriful got the first of his four wickets, after Taylor, who played so serenely was dismissed bizarrely. Taylor was hit wicket after practicing the shadow of the shot as he hit the stumps unfortunately while getting the bat down.    Taylor made 46 off 57 with five fours and one six.   After Taylor's dismissal, Bangladesh looked to take the stranglehold of the match but Wessley Madhevere stitched two important partnerships, which ensured Zimbabwe would go past 200 runs mark.   He firstly added 35-run with Dion Mayers who struck a patient 34 before being dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan.   Sikandar Raza made important 30 runs and was the part of 63-run partnership with Madhevere for the sixth wicket stand.   Shoriful came back in his second spell and sparked the collapse that saw Zimbabwe losing four wickets for just 20 runs. Shoriful himself took three wickets in those four.   He started his venture, dismissing Madhevere who top-scored for the side with 56 off 63, clobbering five fours and one six. He also claimed the wicket of Luke Jongwe and Blessing Muzarabani before Saifuddin dismissed Sikandar Raza. Source: BSS AH

Hosts Bangladesh completed a clean sweep in the two-match T20 home series outplaying Zimbabwe by nine wickets on Wednesday. Tigers have maintained their all-win record against Zimbabwe beating the tourist by 48 runs in the first T20I after their convincing wins in the one off-Test and three-match ODI series. Bangladesh won the toss and sent Zimbabwe bat first in this game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. But the tourists managed to score only 119 for seven in 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh sealed the game in 15.5 overs with the help of the unbeaten 60 by Liton Das off 45 balls with eight fours. He was adjudged the man of the match. The hosts lost only one wicket when Mohammad Naim was caught by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe at the boundary for 33 off 34 balls with five fours. Soumya Sarkar came in at number three and remained unbeaten hitting 20 off 16 balls with two sixes. Zimbabwe had a good start with the bat, posting 69 for two wickets with Brendan Taylor smashing 59 off 48 hitting six fours and a six. But the other batsmen failed to keep the scoreboard rolling. Craig Ervine was the second-highest scorer with 29 off 33 balls. But batsmen like Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza failed to do well in the match. Mustafizur Rahman and Al Amin Hossain bagged two wickets each while Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan and Afif Hossain took one wicket each. Bangladesh’s next assignment is to tour Pakistan for one ODI and Test. However, this series is now under uncertainty due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan on Wednesday hinted that they might call off this tour. Source: UNB AH

Riding on the fiery batting efforts by Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar, the high-flying Tigers outplayed Zimbabwe by 48 runs in the first match of the two-match T20I series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday. Sent into bat first after losing the toss, Bangladesh posted a comfortable 200 runs. In reply, Zimbabwe were bundled out for 152 runs in 19 overs to lose the match by 48 runs.  Zimbabwe were never in a position to offer a threat to the hosts as they lost veteran Brendan Taylor in the second over while replying to a big total of 200 runs. Shafiul Islam drew first blood removing Taylor for one from five deliveries. The tourists lost two more wickets before posting 50 runs on the board. Craig Ervine was the second to get dismissed. He fell prey to Mustafizur Rahman for eight off nine balls with one four while Wesley Madhevere sent to the dressing room trapping into a run-out. Sean Williams and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe added 32 runs in the fourth wicket stand when Zimbabwe stuttering at 37 for three wickets. Leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob earned the breakthrough removing Kamunhukamwe and Williams in successive two deliveries. Eventually, Zimbabwe tumbled for 152 all-out in 19 overs as the sealed the game by 48 runs. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was the highest runs scoring 28 while Sean Williams (20), Richmond Mutumbami (20), Donald Tiripano (20) and Carl Mumba (25) also contributed with the bat. Msutafizur Rahman and Aminul Islam bagged three wickets each while Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin and Afif Hossain took one wicket each. Earlier, Liton continued his tremendous form as he smashed a 39-ball 59 with five fours and three sixes to help Bangladesh post a challenging total of 200 for 3 in 20 overs. Liton hit two centuries in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and earned the man of the series award. Now, he managed to bring his golden form in T20Is as well. Along with him, Soumya Sarkar struck 32-ball 62 with four fours and five sixes to help the Tigers post a big total. Zimbabwe won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal posted 92 runs in the first wicket stand before Tamim fell prey to Wesley Madhevere for 41 off 33 balls with three fours and two sixes. After Tamim’s departure, Liton and Soumya Sarkar added only 14 runs in the second wicket stand. Liton was removed by Sikandar Raza. The right-handed batsman expected the ball to turn away but it didn’t and hit his pad. In the third wicket stand, Soumya and Mushfiqur Rahim added 40 runs. In the eight-ball short stay, Mushfiqur scored 17 with two sixes but he failed to continue as Chris Mpofu trapped him. After Mushfiqur’s removal, Mahmudullah and Soumya added 54 runs on the board off 25 balls. Soumya remained unbeaten on 62 scoring 20 runs in the last over smashing three big sixes. Raza, Mpofu and Wesley Madhevery scalped one wicket each in this game. The second and final game of the series will take place on March 11 at the same venue. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 123 runs (DL method) in the third and final match of the three-match series at Sylhet International Stadium on Friday to whitewash the visitors. Liton Das struck 176, Bangladesh’s highest individual innings in ODIs, which earned him the man of the match award. After Bangladesh posted 322 in 43 overs for three, Zimbabwe’s revised target was set at 342 in 43 overs. The tourists managed to score 218 in 37.3 overs and lost the game by 123 runs. With this win, Bangladesh completed a clean sweep as they won the first two games as well at the same venue. Sikandar Raza, who played his 100th ODI, scored team highest 61 off 50 balls with five fours and two sixes. Along with him, Wesley Madhevere (42), Sean Williams (30) and Regis Chakabva (34) contributed with the bat, but their efforts were not enough to avoid the clean sweep. Mohammad Saifuddin bagged four wickets conceding 41 runs in 6.3 overs while Taijul Islam took two for 38 runs. Earlier, riding on the record-breaking knock of 176 by Liton Das, Bangladesh posted 322 runs for three wickets. Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das posted 292 runs in the first wicket stand which propelled the Tigers to their joint-highest total against Zimbabwe. Liton Das hit 176 of 143 balls which is now Bangladesh’s highest individual innings in ODIs. Along the way, Liton passed Tamim who scored 158 in the previous game. The 292-run stand between Tamim and Liton in the first wicket stand is now the highest ODI stand for Bangladesh in any wicket. They surpassed Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad who had hit 224 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2017. Liton ended on 176 off 143 with 16 fours and eight sixes while Tamim remained unbeaten for 128 off 109 with seven fours and six sixes. It was the second successive ton for Tamim in the series. Rain halted the game for more than an hour after 33.2 overs, and the match was reduced to 43-over a side. After Liton was removed by Carl Mumba in the 41st over, Mahmudullah Riyad and debutant Afif Hossain fell in a quick succession. Mahmudullah posted three while Afif scored seven. Carl Mumba bagged all three wickets that Bangladesh lost in this game. Both the teams now will lock horns in a two-match T20I series in Dhaka. The first game of the series will take place on March 9 while the second game will be played on March 11. Source: UNB AH