Bangladesh ODI team will play a 3-match limited over series against the host New Zealand starting from March 20. For the second time in a row, Bangladesh will play a bilateral series in New Zealand without their star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. He has been granted paternity leave by the BCB. Shakib’s absence will give a huge opportunity to both Afif Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain to step up and showcase their talents in difficult New Zealand conditions. Will Bangladesh be able to show fighting spirit against a strong New Zealand side in the ODI series? Let’s analyze the Bangladesh ODI team for the New Zealand tour 2021.
Bangladesh ODI Squad for New Zealand Series 2021
BCB announced a 20-man ODI squad for the series. The selectors have included seven fast bowlers in Bangladesh ODI Squad as New Zealand condition usually suits for the pacers. The team also contains three spinners and a notable number of all-rounders.
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed earned a maiden call up for the national side, while Mosaddek Hossain has returned to the Bangladesh squad after a fruitful all-round display in the recently concluded UAE T10 league.
Captain Tamim Iqbal, and two other senior members of the team: Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are available for the series and they will have to take extra responsibility to marshal the troops against the Kiwi side.
Also read: Who can replace Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh Cricket Team?
Bangladesh's 20-man ODI squad for the Bangladesh vs New Zealand series 2021:
Tamim Iqbal (Captain, Top order), Mosaddek Hossain (All-rounder), Najmul Hossain Shanto (Top order), Mushfiqur Rahim (Wk & Middle order), Mohammad Mithun (Middle order), Liton Das (Wk & Top Order), Mahmudullah Riyad (All-rounder), Afif Hossain (All-rounder), Soumya Sarkar (Top order), Naim Sheikh (Top order), Taskin Ahmed (Fast medium), Al Amin Hossain (Fast medium), Shoriful Islam (Left-arm fast medium), Hasan Mahmud (Fast medium), Mohammad Saifuddin (All-rounder), Mustafizur Rahman (Left-arm fast medium), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (All-rounder), Mahedi Hasan (All-rounder), Rubel Hossain (Fast medium), Nasum Ahmed (Left-arm orthodox)
Read New Zealand Series will define Tamim’s captaincy
Bangladesh tour of New Zealand: 2021 vs 2019
On paper, the present side is more versatile than the 2019 Bangladesh ODI squad for the New Zealand series but the team lacks experience. Mashrafe Mortaza captained the team tigers in 2019 but his side suffered heavy defeats in all 3 matches against the Blackcaps. For this time, Tamim Iqbal has to chalk out a suitable game plan to put pressure on the home side for a positive outcome.
In 2019, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, and Soumya Sarkar formed the top three batsmen. Among them, Soumya was the top scorer with 52 runs but he will bat at no.7 in the upcoming series.
Najmul Hossain Shanto is likely to replace Soumya to take the no.3 spot despite had an ordinary outcome in the recently concluded home series against the Windies. So we can’t expect him to do an extraordinary performance in a rather challenging New Zealand condition.
Also read: BCB announces Bangladesh squad for New Zealand tour
In the middle order, either Afif Hossain or Mosaddek Hossain will take the vacant Shakib Al Hasan spot. Mithun played a big part in the 2019 series but he is no longer remain the first choice no.5 batsman in Bangladesh playing XI. While Bangladesh team may choose four faster bowlers including Mohammad Saifuddin to form a rather pace-heavy attack.
Overall, this Bangladesh squad has some talented players and match winners to upset the New Zealand side.
The probable Bangladesh ODI XI in the New Zealand series
Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain/Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain
Series results will affect ICC ODI Super League Points table
Stats suggest that the Bangladesh ODI team yet to win a match in New Zealand against the host nation, which clearly indicates coming up top against the Blackcaps in their own backyard would be an astronomical task for Bangladesh.
Besides in search of the first win in New Zealand, this ODI contest is very crucial for Bangladesh to stay firm in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup super league. Bangladesh started off their ODI super league campaign with a thumping 3-0 series victory at home against a second-tier Windies side last month. The Tigers are currently in the second position with 30 points just behind Australia, who are topping the table with most 40 points.
Also read: Shakib granted BCB’s permission to skip NZ tour
Bangladesh needs more than 150 points from their scheduled bilateral super league series. Therefore winning a match in the series would be a great result for Bangladesh to concrete their place in the points table.