Mirpur, Sep 20: After failing to reach this month’s Asia Cup final, Bangladesh is hungry to gain a much-needed boost ahead of the 50-over World Cup by beating New Zealand in the three-match ODI series that starts on Thursday.
Bangladesh rested a host of key players for the Asia Cup, captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy among them, in order to keep them fresh and injury-free, although it has still not named its squad for next month’s World Cup.
New Zealand has sent only five World Cup-bound players to Bangladesh, stand-in skipper Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi and Will Young.
Tamim Iqbal, who stepped down as ODI captain last month, is back for Bangladesh after recovering from a back problem. Mahmudullah, axed after the England series in March following poor form, also returns.
Liton Das, who leads the side in Shakib’s absence, said: “There are many things to achieve from the series. The first thing is to win, that will be a big achievement ahead of the World Cup.
“We won’t play to show just individual brilliance. A five-wicket haul or a century doesn’t matter if the team doesn’t win.” Ferguson, yet to play on Bangladesh soil, believes conditions will test his New Zealand team to the limit. (PTI)
