It is an event of history that Bangladesh Cricket team has been humiliated with Comprehensive ODI series whitewash. Scores of 131 and 154 in ODI in modern day cricket is disgraceful for a team that played in the quarter final of ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. We can carry out extensive and intensive post mortem of the diabolic and abysmal performance of team tigers. Now let us move to 3 Matches T20 Series that starts tomorrow 28 March 2021 at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Second Match will be held on 30 March at Napier and third at Eden Park Auckland on 1 April. 

New Zealand is at 5th and Bangladesh at 7th in ICC T20 Ranking. Bangladesh has played 10 matches with New Zealand and lost all. Bangladesh played T20 match at Hamilton 10 years back and lost it.

ICC T20 International Ranking 

The top six are way ahead of the bottom four. The bottom three are breathing on the shoulders of Bangladesh. In any case Bangladesh has to play in the qualifying round for ICC T20 Championship scheduled to be held in India in 2021 and in Australia in 2022. 

The Squads:
New Zealand:  Tim Southee (Captain), Fin Allen, Ted Astol, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (Wicket Keeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glen Phillips, Ish Sodhi and Willie Young.

Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Kumar Das, Mosaddeq Hossain Soikat, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mohammad Mithun, Afiff Hossain Dhrubo, Soumyo Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mostafizur Rahman, Mehedy Hasan Meraj, Mehedy Hasan, Rubel Hossain and Nasum Ahmed. 

New Zealand has released six of its first team players for playing in IPL. The lone Bangladeshi, worlds top ranked all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is now in Kolkata for playing on behalf of Kolkata Knight Riders. Bangladesh ODI captain citing personal reasons has skipped the T20 series. Injured speedster Hasan Mahmood has also taken the flight to Dhaka with his captain.

Hamilton is another picturesque of New Zealand, the 6th largest. Green and attractive Hamilton is a preferred destination for picnic. It is 150 KM south of Auckland. The wicket like all New Zealand wickets would offer pace and bounce but also would assist stroke making. 

The ground is located close to the centre of Hamilton, WestpacTrust Park has been the Northern Districts' Cricket Association's main home venue since the Association was formed for the 1956/57 season. It became New Zealand's newest test venue in the 1990/91 season when New Zealand and Sri Lanka played out a drawn match. The ground has a capacity of 10,000. 

What Can Bangladesh Do?     
Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Raid in his pre match statement has mentioned about playing fearless cricket. He showed it while playing a swashbuckling unbeaten innings in the lost cause at Basin Resereve. The 18 members Bangladesh has 7 players who did not opportunity for playing in the ODI series. We think after Bangladesh lost the ODI series losing the first two matches smart decision could be exposing Naim Sheikh, Nazmul Shanto and Afiff Hossain. We are not sure whether Mosaddeq has fully recovered from Injury.

We have seen how Liton and Sounya struggled in ODI series. They should be rested at least in the first T20 bringing in Naim Shiekh and Nazmul Shanto as openers. With Mosaddeq and Afiff available for batting in the late middle order Mithun can play at three, four and five should be Mushfique and Mahmudullah, Mosaddeq and Saifuddin should play at six and seven. Rubel, Taskin Shoriful and Nasum should make the team. After the pounding that Mustafiz got in the 3rd ODI he should be rested in the first match. 

Suggested Playing XI: Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riad, Mosaddeq Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shorful Islam and Nasum Ahmed. 

Bangladesh must play positive with 5 batsmen, two all-rounders and 4 specialist bowlers including only left arm spinner. With Mossadeq and Saifuddin Mahmudullah will have options with 6 bowlers.  Shoriful and Nasum must be launched. Rubel and Taskin were in sparkling for in the 3rd ODI.

We can guarantee Tim Southee with movement and accuracy, Lockie Fergusson with raw pace and Ish Sodhi with his spin would tease Bangladesh. But Bangladesh must be brave dealing with them. Bangladesh would require scoring at least 170 if batting first to challenge black caps. Wickets of Guptill and Conway would be the key. Hope Bangladesh improves fielding and takes the catches. We are confident that Mahmudullah would lead the team far better. 

There may be some eyebrows raised about resting Liton. Some experts may question about Wicket keeping of Mushfique. But he is too good a player and too committed not learning from mistakes.

Well once again Bangladeshi fans must be carefully optimistic. New Zealand even without 6 top players is a formidable team. But T20 can see two three players shining on the day changing. Let us hope tomorrow is going to be the day.

BDST: 1638 HRS, MAR 27, 2021
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