Dhaka: Bangladesh national cricket team will leave for Zimbabwe on Wednesday evening to play two-match Test series, three ODIs and two T20 encounters against their Zimbabwe counterpart.

During the month-long tour in Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will play the first Test on April 17-21 and the second, and final Test on April 25-29, both at the Harare Sports Club ground. After the Test series, Bangladesh will play the first ODI on May 3, the second on May 5 and the third and last ODI on May 8, all at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The two-match T20 will be held on May 11 and 12 at the same venue. Meanwhile, the today's scheduled practice session of the Zimbabwe-bound team has been cancelled due to the 36-hour strike.

The team management had planned to have a practice session with all 15 selected cricketers before leaving for Harare.

Bangladesh's recently concluded trip in Sri Lanka was remarkable as they notched their first draw against the hosts in the first Test at Galle and then shared the three-match ODI series 1-1. The Tigers had to deal with hot and humid condition in Sri Lanka but different conditions wait in Harare where they will play both Tests.

The team will reach the Zimbabwean capital on April 11 and get six days to acclimatise with the condition before the first Test starting from April 17.

Bangladesh batting side boosted by the return of famed all rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Shahriar Nafees before the Zimbabwe tour, but problems persist with the inexperienced pace attack for a series where the pitch is expected to favour the pacers.

There is a good news for Tigers as Saqlain Mushtaq will rejoin Bangladesh as their spin bowling consultant for the side's tour of Zimbabwe. He will join the squad in Dubai on April 11 from where the team will travel to Harare.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has a deal with the former Pakistan offspinner for 100 days of work this year, after his previous contract ended last December. This will be Saqlain's first assignment with Bangladesh in 2013. He wasn't with the team on their tour of Sri Lanka.

This will be Mushtaq's second stint with Bangladesh as he worked with the Tigers during the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka and the home series against the West Indies last year during his first assignment.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain & wicket keeper), Tamim Iqbal, Jahurul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Enamul Haque, Robiul Islam and Sajidul Islam.

Ends/AMA/09/04/13