Sports desk: Bangladesh will take on New Zealand XI in the one-off practice match at the Cobham Oval (New) in Whangarei today. The match will be a 50-over affair as part of their three-match ODI series with which they kick-start the tour.
Right after arriving in Auckland from Sydney, where they held a practice session in a bid to cope with the conditions of Down Under, the Bangladesh players have been spending a magnificent time in on and off the field, the team management said.
But they didn’t forget the tasks at their hands. They held a practice session ahead of the lone warm-up game. Bangladesh will play two
Tests, three ODIs and as many T20I matches against the Black Caps.
The team management called up youngsters including Mehedi Hasan Miraj, Tanbir Hayder, Shubashis Roy alongside the old guards likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain, who return to the fold after a long gap of times before stepping into the ODI series.
Tanbir Hayder who for the first time was called up in national set up for any format was delighted for the chance he was given. “It’s great to be the part of national team. I cherish the call up,” said the all-rounder whose leg-spin is believed to be handy along with his batting.
“I am excited to practice with the national team. It’s a dream come true. I don’t know whether I will make it in final squad but if I am provided the chance, I’ll try to show my mettle. I want to cement my place and that’s what my target is at the moment.” The visitors will start their major campaign against the Black Caps in the first one day of the three-match series at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 26 December.
They will play their second and third match to be held at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on December 29 and 31 respectively.
Just two days after, the visitors will take on the Black Caps in the first T20I at the McLean Park in Napier on January 3.
Thereafter, they will play the second and third matches against the hosts at the Bay Oval, Mount Maungauni on January 6 and 8 correspondingly. At the last quarter of the tour, both the teams will play Test which will be held on Basin Reserve, Wellington and Hagley Oval, Christchurch on January 12-16 and 20-24.
