A 20 members Bangladesh cricket team is now in Christchurch New Zealand preparing for three matches ODI to be followed by 3 matches T20 series. The squad completing 7 days intensive isolation protocol in hotel room with very limited opportunity for gym facility can now engage in some practice in small group. The formal practice session starts from 10 March at Queenstown. The ODI series starts at Dunedin University Oval on 20 March.

This will be the first overseas International cricket contest during the COVID. Bangladesh has recently white washed an under strength West Indies team at home. But after that they also got whitewashed in two matches test series unfortunately. 

New Zealand during this COVID period overwhelmed West Indies and Pakistan at home in all formats and just won a 5 , matches T20 series against Australia 3-2. 

Bangladesh Squad In New Zealand.

Tamim Iqbal, Mosaddek Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah Riad, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed.

The squad has 7 pace bowlers, 4 opening batsman, 4 spinners and 2 wicket keepers.  . It is OK taking two additional pacers considering the nature of the wickets and COVID situation. But Black Caps play pace bowling as good as any team of the world. Bowlers bowling at or below 130 may find it challenging unless they can adjust to windy and swinging conditions early. Quality spinners especially leg spinner always get success in New Zealand. Unfortunately Bangladesh does not have any. Bangladeshi batsmen would not only have to prove competitive against Boult, Southee, Ferguson, Jamieson, Henry, and Neesham. They would have to deal with Ish Sodhi as well. Batting against quality home team bowlers in the first 10 overs would be the key to survival. 

Mashrafee been Mortaza, the charismatic captain of Bangladesh is not in the squad. Shakib Al Hasan, the star all rounder has also been given parental leave for staying beside his wife expecting the third child. Shakib returned to international cricket in end 2020 after serving 1 year ICC ban from all formats of cricket . All Bangladesh players including all coaching and management group have been given first dose of COVID vaccine before leaving Bangladesh and all tested negative in several COVID tests. New Zealand authority appreciated Bangladesh observing all bio security protocol very sincerely. 

Bangladesh so far has not won any match in any format against New Zealand in New Zealand. However, Bangladesh even white washed New Zealand in ODI series at home and won against them in Ireland. Bangladesh won against Scotland in 2015 world chasing over 300 and almost won against New Zealand. This Bangladesh team even without Mashrafee and Shakib has quality and experience of winning ODI matches against any team including New Zealand anywhere of the world. But for that happening senior players have to bowl and bat to the best of their abilities and relatively younger players have to play fearless aggressive cricket. The team this time has got enough time to acclimatise with weather. From 10-19 March they will have opportunities to get a feel of the wickets. It is the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. In New Zealand days and nights xan be quite cool and windy. The wicket as usual would be bouncy.  Ball would swing in the air and wind may create challenges for batsmen and bowlers not getting used.  But more than half of the squad have past proven experience of playing in New Zealand. Mahmudullah, Soumya, Tamim and Mushfique had played well in the past. Taskin , Mustafiz, Rubel and among the youngsters Shoriful and Mehedi Meraj also have some experience.

What Should be Approach In ODI Series?  ODI series is a part of ICC ODI Championship. Bangladesh has just recently white washed West Indies. Win is win in international cricket .It does not matter which was the opposition. New Zealand at this moment is proving very strong in all formats. They are the losing finalist of the 2019 ICC world cup. They lost to England at Lords in the super over. The first match will be played on a small ground of fast outfield at University Oval Dunedin. Wind is definitely a factor there. Hope Bangladesh team management would do an appropriate homework for the match. The first match of the series is extremely important for making a statement.

The T20 series between New Zealand and Australia evidenced that the home team is not unbeatable. Their batting has genuine weakness against quality spin. This is where Bangladesh would miss Shakib and a quality leg spinner. Bangladesh should have taken Rishad with the team. Adam Zampa strangled Kiwis batsmen . This Bangladesh squad has Mehedi Miraj, Mosaddeq , Mehedy Hasan, Afif Dhrubo  and Nasum Ahmed  as the specialised spinner. Mahmudullah and Nazmul Shanto can also bowl if required. Miraj and Mosaddeq would possibly play as all rounders . Would suggest playing Nasum as well. Off the pacers Bangladesh has to pick very carefully as home team would blast any erratic pace bowling . Wind will also be a challenge. Saifuddin should play as all rounder . It is to be seen whether Bangladesh appears with one or two genuine pacers . Mustafiz looks like the likely preferred candidate . Would suggest playing Hasan Mahmood with him as first choice partner appearing with Mustafiz for his raw pace . However, Shoriful for his quality should be a back up of Mustafiz and Taskin or Rubel can be tried later if Mahmood Hasan fail to impress.

Batting order maintainance is comparatively simpler. Tamim and Liton should be the first choice opener for ODI with Naim waiting for T20. If Soumya is included in ODI squad he should bat at three. I would suggest playing Mahmudullah at four for his past proven performance in New Zealand in that position. Mushfique should play at five from where he can anchor Bangladesh innings around him. There are several choices for number 6 from among Mosaddeq, Shanto, Afiff and Mithun. Would suggest playing Mosaddeq for his proven all round ability. Meraj should bat at 7 and Saifuddin at 8 leaving 9, 10 and 11 for two pacers and Nasum. This is for ODI . Off course team management are better judges and would have horses for the courses.

As I told the first match of the series at Dunedin is very important. Toss will be vital factor. Batting first would be better for Bangladesh . If New Zealand bat and score 300 plus Bangladesh may struggle under pressure of huge score . On the contrary Bangladesh batting first even if manage scoring 270-280 can fight bowling tight and fielding sharply. Fielding in cold and windy condition especially taking high catches would also be challenging. Hope Bangladesh rewrites history winning few matches this time. 

Hope Bangladesh cricket admirers remain carefully optimistic. New Zealand is always an extremely challenging country for playing cricket by South Asian teams. Even Tasman Cousins Australia also suffer there. Bangladesh must not die before death and play like Roaring Royal Bengal. Wish Tamim and his ODI squad all the best. 

BDST: 1648 HRS, MAR 08, 2021
SMS