Former Bangladesh captain and selector Habibul Bashar said adapting to the New Zealand condition is the key area where the Tigers are focusing on ahead of the series against the hosts

Bangladesh team has recently ended a week-long in-room quarantine period after reaching   New Zealand. They are now allowed to be trained in small groups. Habibul, who is touring the country with the team, said the team is focusing on adapting to the condition.

“The most important thing was to prepare ourselves ahead of the New Zealand series, and this is what we have been doing for a few days now. The facilities here are fantastic. Before coming here, we were thinking about how we can adjust to the condition of New Zealand. What we are getting here in Christchurch is similar to the regular New Zealand wickets. We will have more chance to practice before the series commences,” he told media through a video message from New Zealand.

“I believe we have been doing well and exploiting the chance of coming here early. Everyone is happy with the facilities. The players are thinking that they are getting enough time to get prepared,” he added.

Like the players, Habibul also said that the in-room quarantine period was tough for them as they had nothing much to do in a room for almost 23 hours a day. But he said that the players and other staff will be allowed to move around after the 14-day quarantine period ends. After the first eight days, players are now having a chance to practice in small groups.

“The in-room quarantine period was tough for all of us. But we managed to pass it. Now we are getting a chance to get prepared and practiced. After passing two weeks in quarantine, we will be allowed to move around, and enjoy ourselves off the field. It will not require staying in the bubble after 14 days. Everyone is happy about it,” Habibul added.

In this series, Bangladesh will take on the hosts for three ODIs and as many as T20Is. Tigers are yet to register any win against the Blackcaps in New Zealand.

The ODIs of this series are part of the ongoing World Cup Super Cup. The top seven teams of this event will qualify for the World Cup 2023 along with the hosts India.

Bangladesh played three matches of the World Cup Super League against the West Indies and came up victorious in all of them.

The New Zealand series will be kicked off on March 20 with an ODI at the University Oval, Dunedin. The remaining two ODIs will be played on March 23 and 26 at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch and Basin Reserve, Wellington respectively. The T20Is will be played on March 28, 30 and April 1 at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, Basin Reserve, Wellington and Eden Park, Auckland respectively.

After the New Zealand tour, Tigers will tour Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series which is a part of the World Test Championship. However, the schedule of the Sri Lanka tour is yet to be finalized.