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Harare: Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first in Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket after a six-year absence on Thursday.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan chose to take advantage of cool conditions at Harare Sports Club and a pitch with some grass, which he said should help bowlers.
Zimbabwe is playing a one-off Test, its first since late 2005, when a row between players and the cricket board led the southern African country to voluntarily withdraw from the five-day game.
Wicketkeeper-batsman and former captain Tatenda Taibu was included in Zimbabwe's team despite him making some stinging criticism of the board earlier this week.
Taibu said the problems that led to Zimbabwe's self-imposed exile had not been solved. Players were still without contracts and had not been paid match fees for a year, he claimed.
The timing of his comments was described as "unfortunate" and "cynical" by Zimbabwe Cricket in a statement on the eve of the match. ZC denied players hadn't been paid salaries.
There were Test debuts for four Zimbabwe players on Thursday, batsmen Tino Mawoyo and Craig Ervine and seam bowlers Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori.
"We're a bit nervous but up for the challenge and really excited," new captain Brendan Taylor said. "Preparations have been fantastic and it's time to deliver."
Bangladesh hasn't played a Test since losing 2-0 in a two-match series in England in June last year.
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat, who is at Harare Sports Club for the match, said Zimbabwe's return to Tests was an important moment.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Craif Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Kyle Jarvis, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Raymond Price, Brian Vitori, Chris Mpofu
Bangladesh: Shakib al Hassan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shahriar Nafeez, Robiul Islam
