New Zealand
Ticket prices unveiled for Bangladesh vs New Zealand test match in Sylhet
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has disclosed the ticket prices for the upcoming two-match test series featuring Bangladesh and New Zealand, set to commence on November 28 in Sylhet.
For the first test match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS), the prices are as follows: Grand Stand at Tk 1,000; Club House at Tk 300; Eastern Gallery at TK 200; Western Gallery at Tk 100; and Green Hill Area at Tk 100.
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Ticket counters, situated at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) Main Gate Lakkatura and Sylhet District Stadium (Main Gate) Rikabibazar, will operate from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on match days and the day preceding.
This series marks the commencement of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, representing the first home series for the Tigers in this event.
BCB has officially announced a 15-member squad for this series, with Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the team. Shanto, a left-handed top-order batter, assumed test captaincy for the first time, stepping in for the regular captain, Shakib Al Hasan, who is sidelined due to a finger injury.
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Notably, three players are set to make their test debut for Bangladesh in this series: Hasan Mahmud, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, and Hasan Morad. While Mahmud has prior experience in ODIs and T20Is, this marks his Test debut. Shahadat and Morad, on the other hand, have yet to make their international cricket debuts.
While the first test of the two-match series will be played in Sylhet, the second and final match will be played in Dhaka on December 6.
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Bangladesh squad for the New Zealand Test series: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, and Hasan Morad.
Shanto to Lead Bangladesh in Test Series Against New Zealand
Top-order batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the Bangladesh team in the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand starting later this month.
Jalal Younus, chairman of the cricket operation department of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed the development to media on Saturday (November 18, 2023).
“Shanto will lead the team in the two Tests against New Zealand,” Jalal said at a press briefing at the BCB media lounge.
In the ICC World Cup 2023, deemed “the worst” for Bangladesh by Shakib Al Hasan, Shanto led the team in two matches when the regular captain Shakib was out of the playing XI due to injury concerns.
Read: New Zealand to visit Bangladesh in November for 2-Test series
Shakib, who was ruled out of the World Cup before the last match for Bangladesh, is set to miss the upcoming Test series as he continues to recover from a finger injury.
Opener Litton Das has also been granted leave for a month. He recently became father of a baby girl.
“Litton asked for leave for two months; we have accepted one month,” Jalal confirmed. “He became a father, so he needs leave, and we understand it.”
Meanwhile, Allan Donald resigned from his post as the pace bowling coach of Bangladesh. In his absence, coaches from the high-performance unit may join the national team to fulfill his role. The BCB will soon appoint a new pace-bowling coach.
Read more: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
ICC World Cup 2023 Semifinal: Preview of India vs New Zealand ODI
India and New Zealand are set to face off in the first semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. Led by Rohit Sharma, India secured the top spot by winning eight consecutive games. On the other hand, New Zealand earned a spot in the top four with five wins in nine matches. Ahead of the big match, let's review the condition of each team.
Preview of IND vs NZ ODI in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup
India headed to the semifinal with great confidence as they won three consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands this month. In all three matches, they batted first and emerged victorious. In their previous encounter with New Zealand, India won the match while batting second.
India
In the midst of all the surprises and upsets that the 2023 ODI World Cup has delivered, one consistent factor stands out—India's unquestionable dominance throughout the tournament.
India has three of the top eight run-scorers in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The former captain, Virat Kohli, leads the charts with 594 runs in nine innings, followed by current captain Rohit Sharma with 503 runs and batter Shreyas Iyer with 421 runs, both in nine innings each. This collective dominance is quite significant.
Furthermore, India has three bowlers among the top eight wicket-takers in the tournament. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads with 17 wickets in nine innings, followed by fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in five innings, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja with 16 wickets in nine innings. Mohammed Siraj is a bit further down the list with 12 wickets in nine innings.
Having won the Cricket World Cup twice, with the last victory in 2011, India is currently unbeaten at home and has several star players in excellent form. However, Hardik Pandya's absence from the squad could prove to be a significant factor for India, given that he was not only one of their key players but also served as the team's vice-captain. With Suryakumar Yadav taking his place at number 5 in the batting lineup, India has been playing with just five bowlers ever since Pandya was sidelined.
Shubman Gill's comeback after recovering from dengue has led to him consistently opening the batting alongside Sharma since the match against Pakistan on October 14. And getting Shubman regularly in the team is a plus point for India.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
New Zealand
New Zealand should be thankful for securing four wins relatively early in their World Cup campaign, as they later experienced four consecutive defeats. However, a late victory over Sri Lanka pushed them into the semifinal stage of the tournament against the clear favorites for the title.
Opener Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stand out as the top run-scorers for the Black Caps at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Ravindra has accumulated 565 runs in nine innings, whereas Mitchell has notched up 418 runs in eight innings, registering three centuries in this tournament. The return to fitness of captain Kane Williamson is also a significant boost for the team.
New Zealand's standout wicket-takers in this tournament are spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Trent Boult, who have collectively taken 29 wickets. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has contributed with 10 wickets. The absence of fiery Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets before leaving the tournament due to injury, is a potential concern.
Despite being finalists in 2019 and 2015, New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup. As they aim for a third successive final, their recent bilateral ODI series record against India is not impressive. However, in a major tournament, a single win can correct past shortcomings.
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Probable Starting XI for India
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Probable Starting XI for New Zealand
Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult.
IND vs NZ Head-to-head Records So Far
In the 117 ODI matches played between India and New Zealand, India has the lead with 59 victories. However, New Zealand is a notable challenge for India. In the ODI World Cups, the two teams have faced each other ten times. New Zealand has won five of those matches, while India has emerged victorious in four, with one match ending without a result.
Stats
Matches
India Won
New Zealand Won
No Result
Tied
Overall
117
59
50
7
1
ODI World Cups
10
4
5
1
0
World Cup 2023
1
1
0
0
0
Indian Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India in this tournament, consistently providing explosive starts that have often put the team in a favorable position. However, when considering his suitability for the upcoming game, it's important to note that his current form is the primary factor in his favor. However, Rohit doesn't have a good record against New Zealand, and he has a 37.40 average from 26 innings against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been in excellent form during the tournament, scoring 594 runs in nine innings and currently ranking as the highest run-scorer. His impressive track record against New Zealand, with an average of 56.59 across 30 innings, and his fondness for batting at the Wankhede Stadium, where he has an average of 59.50, make him a crucial and essential choice for the upcoming game.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has been in sensational form since entering the tournament. With an impressive 16 wickets in just four matches, Shami is proving to be unstoppable. His outstanding performance makes it impossible to overlook him for the upcoming game.
Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
New Zealand Players to Watch
Rachin Ravindra
The most significant topic of conversation in this tournament has revolved around Rachin Ravindra and his impressive batting performance. With a total of 565 runs in nine innings, he currently holds the title of the third-highest run-scorer in the World Cup 2023. Considering his incredible form, Ravindra is undoubtedly a key player in the next match against the Kiwis.
Trent Boult
The Kiwi speedster hasn't been in top form during the tournament, making him appear as a somewhat risky choice. However, if New Zealand ends up bowling second, Trent Boult could become a crucial player for them. He grabbed 13 wickets from 9 games.
Final Words
India is unbeaten in this ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. Although New Zealand has a better record in the knockout stage, India has the home ground advantage. So, India is likely to win this IND vs NZ match.
Read more: Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the ICC World Cup 2023
New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
In September 2023, the New Zealand men's cricket team visited Bangladesh and played three ODI matches. Both teams used these matches to prepare for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. After the World Cup, the New Zealand team will return to Bangladesh in November 2023 to play two Test matches. These Test matches are part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship.
New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
Bangladesh and New Zealand are set to play a two-match Test series in the latter part of November and early December 2023. The series will kick off with a two-day practice match scheduled for the 23rd and 24th of November at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This practice match will serve as a crucial warm-up for both teams before they enter into the Test matches.
The first Test of the series will begin on November 28 and continue until December 2, also taking place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Finally, the series will conclude with the second Test, which is scheduled from the 6th to the 10th of December at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladeshi fans are eagerly waiting for this face-off, as Bangladesh will play a test match after more than five months.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Maxwell's epic 201 brings Australia back from the dead, breaking Afghan hearts
Table: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2023 Fixtures
Date
Time (BD Time)
Match Type
Venue
23–24 November
9:30 AM
2 Day Practice Match
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
28 November – 2 December 2023
9:30 AM
1st Test
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
6–10 December 2023
9:30 AM
2nd Test
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Probable Bangladesh Squad for the Test Series Against New Zealand
Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Shariful Islam and Ebadat Hossain.
New Zealand Squad for the Test Series
Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson and Will Young.
New Zealand Cricket has announced a 15-man squad on November 7 for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. This Test series will be a fascinating contest as the New Zealand team prepares to face the challenges of the longer format after their limited-overs battles in the subcontinent. There are several spinners in the team. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner are joined by Rachin Ravindra and Ish Sodhi.
Mitchell Santner has made a comeback to the New Zealand Test squad, marking his return to the format after his last appearance in 2021 against England at Lord's. Santner's inclusion adds variety to the team's bowling and all-round capabilities. However, it's worth noting that Trent Boult, a key figure in the New Zealand fast bowling attack, will be absent from the upcoming Test series as he has made himself unavailable for selection.
Read more: Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Showing Light of Hope
Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series Recap
This upcoming Test series is a part of the New Zealand tour of Bangladesh that started with the ODI series on September 21, 2023, and paused with the third ODI match on September 26, 2023.
Bangladesh lost the series by 2-0 as the first match was abandoned due to rain. In the first ODI held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on September 21, rain played spoilsport, and the match ended without a result, with New Zealand posting a total of 136/5 in 33.4 overs. Will Young's steady 58 off 91 deliveries and Mustafizur Rahman's 3/27 with the ball were notable highlights.
The second ODI, also in Dhaka, was a different story as New Zealand batted first and set a target of 255. For New Zealand, Tom Blundell scored 68, and Ish Sodhi took a historic 6 wickets for 39 runs. Bangladesh's response fell short, with Mahedi Hasan taking 3/45, and New Zealand emerged victorious by 86 runs, marking their first ODI win in Bangladesh since 2008.
The third ODI, again in Dhaka, saw Bangladesh posting a target of 171 runs. New Zealand bowler Adam Milne's 4/34 performance stopped Bangladesh from scoring big. However, New Zealand chased down the target with ease, powered by Will Young's 70 off 80 balls, and they won by seven wickets, securing the series. The series had its share of debutants and prominent records, including Khaled Ahmed and Zakir Hasan's ODI debuts and Ish Sodhi's exceptional bowling feat. Additionally, Najmul Hossain Shanto led the Bangladeshi side for the first time in ODIs, adding a layer of significance to the series. Overall, the series showcased the competitive spirit and talent on display from both teams, leaving fans eagerly waiting for their future encounters.
Final Words
While Bangladesh has yet to announce the squad, New Zealand, on the other hand, has announced a balanced 15-man squad featuring a mix of experience and promising talent. With the background of the ICC World Test Championship, this New Zealand tour of Bangladesh holds significant importance for both teams' aspirations in the tournament.
Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
World Cup 2023: Rachin and Williamson Propel NZ to 401 against Pakistan
Rachin Ravindra showcased his form with another century in the ongoing ICC World Cup, while Kane Williamson narrowly missed a century by five runs, steering New Zealand to an imposing total of 401 in their crucial face-off against Pakistan on Saturday.
Read : India's Hardik Pandya ruled out of Cricket World Cup
Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Pakistan struggled to contain New Zealand's onslaught, allowing them to amass a formidable score.
During the first 20 overs, Pakistan conceded 125 runs, managing to secure only one wicket.
Read : World Cup 2023: New Zealand off to a Solid Start in Crucial Match against Pakistan
In the second-wicket partnership, Rachin and Williamson combined for an impressive 180 runs, with the latter scoring 95 off 79 balls.
Read : India dismantles Sri Lanka to book semifinal spot at Cricket World Cup with 302-run win
Both teams entered this match with their sights set on the semifinals. A victory would greatly enhance New Zealand's chances, while a defeat would effectively close the door for Pakistan.
World Cup 2023: New Zealand off to a Solid Start in Crucial Match against Pakistan
New Zealand got off to a strong start against Pakistan in their crucial encounter in the ICC World Cup 2023 in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first. However, they managed to take only one wicket in 20 overs, conceding 125 runs in the process.
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Rachin Ravindra hit a fifty, his third in this World Cup.
Kane Williamson is leading New Zealand in this match. The regular Kiwi captain had been sidelined for most of the World Cup matches due to injury concerns.
In the opening partnership, New Zealand amassed 68 runs. Devon Conway was the first to fall, scoring 35 runs. He was dismissed by Hasan Ali.
India dismantles Sri Lanka to book semifinal spot at Cricket World Cup with 302-run win
Heading into this match, New Zealand had secured 8 points, while Pakistan had managed six. A victory for New Zealand in this match would eliminate Pakistan from contention for the semifinals.
As of November 4, India is the only team to have qualified for the semifinals of this World Cup.
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Showing Light of Hope
ICC World Cup 2023: Preview of BAN vs. NZ ODI
Bangladesh and New Zealand will meet in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday for the 11th match of the ICC World Cup 2023. The match will begin at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time on October 13, 2023. The Kiwis are in a good mood after winning two consecutive matches without the regular captain Williamson. They blew away the reigning world champions, England, in the opening match of the season. On the other hand, Bangladesh won in their first game of the season but faced a downturn in the second match against the reigning champions, England.
Preview of BAN vs. NZ ODI in ICC World Cup 2023
New Zealand has had a great start in World Cup 2023. In the first match, they defeated the world champion England by 9 wickets, and in the second match, they defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs. On the other hand, after defeating Afghanistan by 6 wickets in the first match, Bangladesh lost to England by 137 runs.
The match will be played on a spin-friendly pitch. And so, despite being in great form, New Zealand's tough batting lineup will have to be worried about this match against Bangladesh. On top of that, the Kiwis will also play against Afghanistan in this stadium. Nevertheless, 9 of the top 10 wicket-takers in the history of the Chidambaram Stadium are spinners. Legendary spinner Anil Kumble is at the top of that list with 48 wickets, and Harbhajan Singh on two with 42 wickets. So, New Zealand sees not only the Tigers but the Afghans as a challenge.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
However, New Zealand has good news for their team. Kane Williamson might return to the field with the match against Bangladesh. The New Zealand captain is making great improvements towards that goal. Alongside him, veteran pacer Tim Southee is set to return against the Tigers. Williamson suffered a ligament injury during the last IPL game. And last month, Southee suffered an ankle injury during the tour of England. Like Williamson, he was also left out of the XI for the first two matches of the World Cup. New Zealand coach Gary Stead gave the news about the two stars on Wednesday. Both are fully ready to return to action after recovering from injuries.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, is likely to start with the regular team. Before the start of the World Cup, it was known that Bangladesh’s batting could suffer. But who thought that the spinners, the main weapon of Bangladesh bowling, would get stuck, which we saw in the last match against England? As Bangladesh's top and middle order suffered a disaster against England in Dharamsala on Tuesday, England also took advantage of their bowling weakness to score runs at a rate of more than 7.25 per over.
The only big news in Bangladesh's batting line-up in the last match is opener Litton Das' return to form. So, fans will keep an eye on him against the Kiwis. However, the loss against England surely reduces Bangladesh's confidence. But the spin-friendly stadium may raise some hope for the Tigers.
The New Zealand team visited Bangladesh on September 21-26 before the World Cup. New Zealand won the three-match series by 2-0. However, just as the Kiwis were not a full-strength team in this series, neither was Bangladesh. So, both teams have a bit of an idea about the opponent.
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BAN vs New Zealand Head to Head in ODI
New Zealand and Bangladesh have encountered each other in 41 matches. Among these, New Zealand secured victory in 30 games, while Bangladesh won 10 games. Additionally, one match concluded without a definitive result.
Table: BAN vs. NZ Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far
Matches
Bangladesh Won
New Zealand Won
No Result
41
10
30
1
Predicted Playing XI for Bangladesh
Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Read more: Analysis of Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.
Bangladeshi Players to Watch in BAN vs NZ Match
Litton Das
Litton played a decently fair inning in the last match against England. He scored 76 runs from 66 balls, which contained 7 fours and 2 sixes. So, Bangladeshi fans might keep some hope on him in the next match. However, Litton played 18 innings this year and scored 427 runs in total, while he played the best innings of the year in the last match.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfique was the second-highest scorer in the last match. He scored 51 runs from 64 balls. This year, Mushfique played 17 innings so far and scored 648 runs in total. However, he could not get a chance to show his skill in the first match against the Afghans as Bangladesh reached the victory before that.
Mahedi Hasan
Mahedi grabbed four wickets in the last match, and he will surely be included in the next match, as it will be played in the spin-friendly stadium. So far, he played 9 matches for Bangladesh in ODI and took 12 wickets. However, he can also contribute with the bat, as he scored 103 runs in total from 8 innings.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India
New Zealand Players to Watch in the BAN vs NZ Match
Mitchell Santner
The all-rounder has effectively established his position as a key player in the New Zealand squad. At 32 years old, he has consistently been the preferred bowler for his captain, Kane Williamson, especially in challenging situations. Notably, he delivered a pivotal spell during their semi final triumph over India in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He also proved himself in this World Cup, as he grabbed 5 wickets against the Netherlands and two wickets against England.
Devon Conway
As Kane Williamson was unavailable for the first two matches, Devon Conway had a significant responsibility in the top order. And he did it pretty well with 152 runs against England and 32 runs against Netherlands. Considering his current form, the Kiwi opener will surely have an impact against Bangladesh.
Rachin Ravindra
By scoring 174 runs from two World Cup matches, Ravindra earned a great World Cup debut for Kiwis. This young batter played 10 innings and scored 363 runs, while his performance at the World Cup is a significant one.
Final Words
Considering the recent performance, New Zealand is a stronger team compared to Bangladesh. Furthermore, upon analyzing the performances of both teams in the ICC World Cup 2023, the Black Caps demonstrated an outstanding performance in two matches. So, Bangladesh will have less of a chance in the BAN vs. NZ ODI match on October 13, 2023.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online
Bangladesh Opt to Bowl First in First ODI Against New Zealand
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first in the opening match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in Dhaka on Thursday (September 21, 2023).
Immediately after the toss, rain interrupted play, leading groundsmen to cover the wickets. But within a few minutes, the sun came out, and the covers were removed.
Read: Litton Wants Tamim and Mahmudullah to Rediscover Joy in Their Game
Regular Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan is absent from this series. Litton Das is leading the side in his place.
In this match, Bangladesh included Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, and Nurul Hasan, none of whom were part of the Bangladesh team in the Asia Cup held in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Lockie Ferguson is captaining New Zealand in this series.
Read: BAN vs NZ ODI Series 2023: Bangladesh Squad Analysis
This series presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to fine-tune their World Cup squad. It's particularly significant for Mahmudullah and Soumya, who have a chance to showcase their capabilities for the upcoming World Cup.
Bangladesh XI: Litton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman.
New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Will Young, Chad Bowes, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Cole McConchie, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson (capt), Trent Boult.
Read more: Sriram Reappointed as Technical Consultant for Bangladesh Team
New Zealand's stand-in captain embraces Bangladesh challenge
Every time a team like New Zealand visits Bangladesh, the local conditions take centre stage in discussions. The New Zealanders, who arrived in Dhaka later last week, anticipate conditions different from what they are accustomed to at home.
However, Lockie Ferguson, the stand-in captain of the Blackcaps, expressed minimal concern about the conditions. Instead, he eagerly anticipated embracing the challenge Bangladesh presents.
On his first visit to Bangladesh, the New Zealand captain had his first media interaction today in Dhaka's Mirpur.
New Zealand cricket team's Sept tour: All ODIs to be held in Dhaka
Ferguson believes that the seasoned players who have previously played in Bangladesh will provide valuable insights into the conditions and other nuances. They also have an advantage with the former Bangladesh coach, Shane Jurgensen, now part of New Zealand's coaching staff.
"We will certainly lean on Jurgensen and a few of our players who were here a couple of years ago in terms of understanding how the pitch plays," Ferguson emphasised. "The conditions are slightly different from what we experienced in England (in their last series). I enjoy playing in the subcontinent."
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Similarly, several members of the New Zealand squad are preparing to step on to the field in Bangladesh for the first time.
The New Zealand captain expressed that Bangladesh's spin attack could play a pivotal role in this series, presenting a significant challenge for those new to the Bangladesh terrain.
"Bangladesh is undoubtedly formidable in their home conditions. Hopefully, the rain holds off, but I'm curious to see how the pitch fares tomorrow and throughout this series," he remarked.
According to him, New Zealand's spinners may need to assume the role of wicket-takers in this series. However, he didn't discount the potential contributions of the pacers.
"I've seen some highlights from here when England visited, and there were still some favourable conditions for pacers. That's when the change-ups become more crucial," he added. "Given the high humidity, the ball tends to swing. We're known for our swing bowling, and I'm confident we'll capitalise on that tomorrow."
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For both Bangladesh and New Zealand, this series presents a final opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of the upcoming World Cup later this year. Some players in the New Zealand team are not part of the World Cup squad. Nonetheless, the stand-in captain sees this series as a chance for them to solidify their positions within the setup.
"There's been considerable rotation within international cricket over the past few years, creating more opportunities for them. Undoubtedly, they'll seize this opportunity wholeheartedly this week," added the stand-in captain of the Kiwis.
BAN vs NZ ODI Series 2023: Bangladesh Squad Analysis
Bangladesh could not perform well in the recently ended Asia Cup 2023. Shakib Al Hasan’s team will play at home against New Zealand to regain their confidence before the World Cup 2023. The New Zealand team has already reached Dhaka to play the three-match ODI series. BAN vs NZ series will start on September 21, 2023. All the matches will start at 2 pm Bangladesh time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Bangladesh Squad for Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023
Litton Das (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Syed Khaled Ahmed.
Analysis of Bangladesh Squad Against New Zealand
Bangladesh has made the strategic decision to give a break to several key players during the initial two ODIs against New Zealand. Bangladesh Cricket Board aims to maintain the top players’ physical fitness for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
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Experienced players Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah have been included in the squad for the initial two ODIs. Their return will surely add valuable depth to the squad, and the selectors can decide if these two should be selected for the World Cup.
Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam are being given rest by the cricket board. This means that when the series starts next Thursday, we will see some new faces on the field. Since Shakib is on rest, Litton Das will be the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team. Some other players, like Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, and Mohammad Naim, were dropped from the squad. Instead, Soumya Sarkar and Nurul Hasan, along with three new and uncapped players, Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Khaled Ahmed, have been selected to join the team. So, the upcoming series gives the selectors a chance to see how some other players perform before the World Cup and see if any hidden gem comes out.
It can be said that the team has a mix of both experienced and young players. Among them, only Zakir, Khaled, and Rishad haven’t played in ODIs yet. Zakir almost got a chance to play against Ireland in March, but he got injured. Khaled has shown good performance in List A cricket, and Rishad brings something unique to the bowling strategy.
Read more: Nic Pothas Steps in as Bangladesh's Interim Coach in Chandika's Absence
On August 3, Tamim stepped down from his role as Bangladesh’s ODI captain. He also mentioned that he wouldn’t be playing in the Asia Cup because he needed time to recover from several injuries, and now he is back.
Mahmudullah is making a comeback to the team after his last ODI series against England in March. He was given a break initially during the Ireland series in March-April but was later not selected for the away series against Ireland in Chelmsford in May. Additionally, he was also left out of the ODIs against Afghanistan and didn’t play in the Asia Cup.
However, Soumya Sarkar’s selection is quite unexpected because he has been struggling with his performance for a while now. It was even surprising when he was picked for the Bangladesh A team in the recent Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams tournament. However, even at that level, he managed to score only 95 runs in three innings, which isn’t considered a strong performance.
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Additionally, Bangladesh will be without Ebadot Hossain, who has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a recent knee surgery earlier this month. Furthermore, Najmul Hossain Shanto will also be absent from the New Zealand series due to a hamstring injury he sustained after participating in just two games during the Asia Cup.
Among the new and uncapped players, Zakir, Rishad, and Khaled have all represented Bangladesh in various forms of cricket but have not played in ODIs yet. Zakir, who usually opens the batting, has an average of 29.92 after playing 103 List A matches. Rishad, who is only 21 years old, has participated in just three List A matches and made his T20I debut against Ireland earlier this year. Khaled, who is nearly 31 years old, is a medium-pace bowler with 64 List A wickets in 47 games. He has also played 12 Test matches for Bangladesh.
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Key Players to Watch in the Bangladesh Squad
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Tanzim Hasan Sakib is a recent addition to the Bangladesh cricket team. He did great on his ODI debut against India in the last match of the Asia Cup Super Four round. He managed to take two important wickets of Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma and showed his skills before the 2023 World Cup. The speedster was a member of the Bangladesh Under-19 team that won the 2020 World Cup in South Africa. So, he will definitely get all the attention in this series.
Tawhid Hridoy
He has been performing well and scoring consistently ever since he made his T20 debut, and he also did pretty well in the Asia Cup. He scored 158 runs with 82 high scores and 68.69 strikes from five appearances in the Asia Cup. Further, his 54 runs off 81 balls contribution against India gave Bangladesh a good fighting chance. So, it is expected he will keep shining in the New Zealand series, too.
Mahmudullah
Mahmudullah was missed greatly in the Asia Cup 2023 as Bangladeshi top orders failed miserably, and there were no stable players to play in the middle orders. Mahmudullah could have contributed to those situations. So, fans will be looking to his performance in this series and see if he can give his best to be included in the World Cup squad. Overall, Mahmudullah played 218 ODIs for Bangladesh and scored 4950 runs with a highest score of 128 runs.
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Nasum Ahmed
Nasum Ahmed can be a great pick for the middle order. While he did not get much chance to show his talent, he got attention in the last match against India. He scored 44 runs from 45 balls while batting at number 8. His bowling performance was also satisfactory. Although he did not get any wickets in the Asia Cup, his economy rate was 4.05 after bowling 20 overs. So, he will surely try to prove himself in both batting and bowling.
Final Words
This New Zealand series is an ideal opportunity to check the alternative players for the World Cup while giving the regular players rest. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken the opportunity perfectly. Now, we have to wait until the series ends on September 26 to see the outcome. This BAN vs NZ ODI series is considered as preparation for the World Cup 2023. Hence, the Tigers’ performance in this series will give us an idea about their performance in the World Cup.
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