New Zealand tour to Bangladesh 2021 [Preview]
Bangladesh is scheduled to tour New Zealand in the month of March to play three ODIs and three T20Is, starting from 20th March at Dunedin. New Zealand is currently playing Australia in the five-match T20I series.
The home side has yet to announce their T20I and ODI squad for Bangladesh series. Given their excellent results at home, New Zealand will be looking to with the same players that were picked for Australia series. Kane Williamson will lead the side for the T20I and ODI series.
On the other hand, Bangladesh have announced their ODI squad for the three-match series against New Zealand. Veteran opener Tamim Iqbal will lead the side for this series.
Batting all-rounder Mahedi Hasan, bowling all-rounder Nasum Ahmed and left-arm quick Shoriful Islam are three uncapped players picked for the one-day series. Najmul Hasan Shanto, Mohammad Naim, Hasan Mahmud and Afif Hossain are inexperienced players that have played a handful of games for Bangladesh in limited-overs cricket.
All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain and pacer Al-Amin Hossain make their comeback to limited-overs squad for tour of New Zealand.
Shakib Al Hasan will miss the tour of New Zealand as he has taken paternity leave. The visitors will certainly services of Shakib Al Hasan as an experienced player in limited-overs cricket.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das to deliver the bulk of the runs.
Since May 2019, opener Tamim Iqbal has topped the batting charts for Bangladesh in the 50-over format. Left-hander has accumulated 900 runs in 21 matches at an average of 45.00 with two centuries and five half-centuries.
Besides Tamim Iqbal, players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das are averaging well over 50 in the past two years in limited-overs cricket.
Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar and Mosaddek Hossain are experienced players that offer value with bat and ball.
In the bowling department, the onus will be on the pace duo of Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin to make crucial breakthroughs with the new-ball.
Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain and Shoriful Islam are pace options for Bangladesh for this series.
Mehidy Hasan Miraaz, Mosaddek Hossain, Nasum Ahmed and Mahmudullah are spin options for this three-match series.
On the other hand, New Zealand will be looking to field their strongest squad for this three-match series.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the experienced batting trio of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to make notable contributions with the bat.
Since May 2019, Skipper Kane Williamson has shown sublime form with the bat in the limited-overs cricket. He has accumulated 619 runs in 12 innings at an average of 68.77 with two centuries and two half-centuries to his name.
Besides Williamson, veteran middle-order batsman Ross Taylor has been a consistent performer for the side in the past 24 months. In14 ODIs, Taylor has scored 548 runs at an average of 49.81 with one century and four half-centuries to his name.
In the bowling department, the onus will be on the experienced pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee to make crucial breakthroughs with the new-ball. Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner and Kyle Jamieson are prominent bowling options for New Zealand for this three-match ODI series.
The opening game of the ODI series will be played at University Oval in Dunedin on 20th March. The second game of the series will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 23rd March. The third and final game of the ODI series will be played at Basin Reserve in Wellington on 26th March.
After the conclusion of limited-overs series, New Zealand and Bangladesh will lock horns in a three-match T20I series. The opening game will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 28th March. The second game will be played at McLean Park in Napier on 30th March. The third and final T20I game of the series will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on 1st April.
