The Bangladesh national cricket team is preparing for its first international assignment under the new arrangement, with former captain Tamin Iqbal as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The National Sports Council dissolved the BCB board due to irregularities and several controversies and has now handed over the reins to the former national captain.
As Bangladesh cricket gears up for a fresh start, the BCB has given a clear message that from now on consistency matters more than experiments for them as they have backed the same group of players for the New Zealand series that recently won the ODI series against Pakistan on home soil.
Bangladesh has selected the same team which defeated Pakistan for New Zealand ODI.
Actually, Bangladesh is all set to host New Zealand in the white ball series this month. The Tigers and Black Caps will play the first two ODIs in Dhaka on April 17 and 20, while the third ODI will be held in Chattogram on April 23. After the ODI series, they will also play a three-match T20 series.
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Chattogram will host the first two matches of the T20I series on April 27 and 29 respectively, while the third and final game will be played in Dhaka on May 2. It is being said that the New Zealand team will reach Bangladesh on Monday 13 April.
Bangladesh wants to continue the winning streak as preparations for the ICC World Cup 2027 begin. The new selection panel headed by Habibul Bashar has announced an unchanged 15-man squad for the first two ODIs against the Black Caps.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz will lead the fast bowlers for the home series
This is the same team that recently defeated Pakistan 2-1 in the home ODI series, now they aim to repeat that success against New Zealand. All-rounder Mehdi Hasan will lead the Miraj team. However, there will be pressure on Saif Hasan and Afif Hussain to perform after their poor performance in the Pakistan series.
Interestingly, Bangladesh have decided not to make any changes to their pace attack. Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana have been retained for the upcoming ODI series. This shows that the team wants stability in the bowling department, breaking the old tradition of rotation.
Interestingly, many players in this announced team including Rishaad Hussain and Tanjeed Hasan are currently busy playing in the ongoing PSL 2026. He will join the Bangladesh team just before the New Zealand series. However, BCB has not announced the T20 team yet.
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Bangladesh’s ODI team for New Zealand series:
Mehdi Hasan Miraj (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hasan, Tanjeed Hasan, Nazmul Hussain Shanto, Tauheed Hridoy, Liton Das (wicketkeeper), Afif Hussain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hussain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.
On the other hand, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has already announced both the white ball squads for the Bangladesh tour.
ODI Team: Tom Latham (captain), Muhammad Abbas, Adi Ashok, Christian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Dean Foxcroft, Will Young, Nick Kelly, Jaden Lennox, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner.
T20I team: Tom Latham (captain), Katy Clarke, Christian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Bevin Jacobs.