Bangladesh will have more to prove than Zimbabwe when the teams clash in an inconsequential Champions Trophy qualifying match in Jaipur on Friday.
Both the teams are out of the reckoning following two defeats each in as many matches, against Sri Lanka and the West Indies who have clinched the two spots available in the Super Eight stage.
That is very much in keeping with the script but Wednesday night's defeat against the West Indies must have hurt the Asian team more than the two maulings the African minnows suffered in the biennial event.
Zimbabwe were handed a nine-wicket thrashing after being bundled out for 85 by title-holders West Indies and then Sri Lanka pasted them to register a 144-run victory.
Nothing more could have been expected of a team that has been stripped of its Test status and comprises a bunch of raw youngsters whose average age is 21.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have consistently flattered to deceive. They started the tournament with a reasonable performance against the Lankans in the first tie at Mohali, where they held themselves while chasing a tall target of 304.
But the batting crumbled when asked to set a target against the West Indies, crashing to their 113th loss in 135 matches.
Brian Lara's men were going to give them no quarter, themselves having a point or two prove after being forced to come through the qualifying rounds despite being the defending champions.
The 10-wicket loss was a massive dent in their pride and a big let down on expectations following a few good victories in recent times.
Captain Habibul Bashar, who has failed to score a run and lasted only three balls at the crease from the two innings he has played so far, said it was a "bad game" and did not expect it to be repeated again.
Bashar would also remember the recent one-day series loss to Zimbabwe.
With voices against their Test status always growing, Bashar's men need to come up with a big win to silence their critics and fans.
As Lara said the other day, Bangladesh really have to put the distance between themselves and Zimbabwe. That is, if there is any.
Teams (from):
Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees (vice-captain), Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed, Farhad Reza, Khaled Mashud, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Rajin Saleh, Saqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel.
Zimbabwe: Prosper Utseya (captain), Gary Brent, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Anthony Ireland, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tafadzwa Mufambisi, Tawanda Mupariwa, Ed Rainsford, Piet Rinke, Gregory Strydom, Brendan Taylor.
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