In September 2023, the New Zealand men's cricket team visited Bangladesh and played three ODI matches. Both teams used these matches to prepare for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. After the World Cup, the New Zealand team will return to Bangladesh in November 2023 to play two Test matches. These Test matches are part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship. New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team Bangladesh and New Zealand are set to play a two-match Test series in the latter part of November and early December 2023. The series will kick off with a two-day practice match scheduled for the 23rd and 24th of November at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This practice match will serve as a crucial warm-up for both teams before they enter into the Test matches. The first Test of the series will begin on November 28 and continue until December 2, also taking place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Finally, the series will conclude with the second Test, which is scheduled from the 6th to the 10th of December at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladeshi fans are eagerly waiting for this face-off, as Bangladesh will play a test match after more than five months. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Maxwell's epic 201 brings Australia back from the dead, breaking Afghan hearts Table: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2023 Fixtures Date Time (BD Time) Match Type Venue 23–24 November 9:30 AM 2 Day Practice Match Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet 28 November – 2 December 2023 9:30 AM 1st Test Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet 6–10 December 2023 9:30 AM 2nd Test Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka Probable Bangladesh Squad for the Test Series Against New Zealand Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Shariful Islam and Ebadat Hossain. New Zealand Squad for the Test Series Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson and Will Young. New Zealand Cricket has announced a 15-man squad on November 7 for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. This Test series will be a fascinating contest as the New Zealand team prepares to face the challenges of the longer format after their limited-overs battles in the subcontinent. There are several spinners in the team. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner are joined by Rachin Ravindra and Ish Sodhi. Mitchell Santner has made a comeback to the New Zealand Test squad, marking his return to the format after his last appearance in 2021 against England at Lord's. Santner's inclusion adds variety to the team's bowling and all-round capabilities. However, it's worth noting that Trent Boult, a key figure in the New Zealand fast bowling attack, will be absent from the upcoming Test series as he has made himself unavailable for selection. Read more: Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Showing Light of Hope Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series Recap This upcoming Test series is a part of the New Zealand tour of Bangladesh that started with the ODI series on September 21, 2023, and paused with the third ODI match on September 26, 2023.  Bangladesh lost the series by 2-0 as the first match was abandoned due to rain. In the first ODI held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on September 21, rain played spoilsport, and the match ended without a result, with New Zealand posting a total of 136/5 in 33.4 overs. Will Young's steady 58 off 91 deliveries and Mustafizur Rahman's 3/27 with the ball were notable highlights. The second ODI, also in Dhaka, was a different story as New Zealand batted first and set a target of 255. For New Zealand, Tom Blundell scored 68, and Ish Sodhi took a historic 6 wickets for 39 runs. Bangladesh's response fell short, with Mahedi Hasan taking 3/45, and New Zealand emerged victorious by 86 runs, marking their first ODI win in Bangladesh since 2008. The third ODI, again in Dhaka, saw Bangladesh posting a target of 171 runs. New Zealand bowler Adam Milne's 4/34 performance stopped Bangladesh from scoring big. However, New Zealand chased down the target with ease, powered by Will Young's 70 off 80 balls, and they won by seven wickets, securing the series. The series had its share of debutants and prominent records, including Khaled Ahmed and Zakir Hasan's ODI debuts and Ish Sodhi's exceptional bowling feat. Additionally, Najmul Hossain Shanto led the Bangladeshi side for the first time in ODIs, adding a layer of significance to the series. Overall, the series showcased the competitive spirit and talent on display from both teams, leaving fans eagerly waiting for their future encounters. Final Words While Bangladesh has yet to announce the squad, New Zealand, on the other hand, has announced a balanced 15-man squad featuring a mix of experience and promising talent. With the background of the ICC World Test Championship, this New Zealand tour of Bangladesh holds significant importance for both teams' aspirations in the tournament. Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team

The Bangladesh football team secured their spot in the second round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating Maldives 3-2 over two matches in the pre-qualifiers. This victory means that Bangladesh will have the opportunity to participate in more international matches in the next three years. Let’s take a look at Bangladesh’s opponents along with match schedules and fixtures in the next round. Bangladesh's Matches in FIFA World Cup 2026 Second Round Qualifiers: Schedules, Fixtures, Team Over the next three years, Bangladesh will have a chance to participate in at least 12 international matches in the FIFA World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. Bangladesh will face Australia, Palestine, and Lebanon in the second round of the World Cup pre-qualifiers. This is the last stage of World Cup pre-qualification. There are a total of 9 groups here. Bangladesh is placed in Group I, alongside Australia, Palestine, and Lebanon. Out of these 9 groups (Group A to Group I), the top two teams from each group – a total of 18 teams – will advance to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers. These 18 teams will get tickets for the 2027 Asian Cup directly. Considering Bangladesh’s football potentials and the reality, it must be said that it is very difficult to be in the top two from the group.  Read more: Bangladesh qualify for 2nd round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers beating Maldives by 2-1 goals Table: Bangladesh’s Matches in the Second Round Qualifiers of FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 Date and Time (Bangladesh Time) Match Venue November 16, 2023; 3:00 PM Australia vs Bangladesh Melbourne Rectangular Stadium November 21, 2023; 5:45 PM Bangladesh vs Lebanon Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka March 21, 2024; Time to be announced Bangladesh vs Palestine Venue to be announced March 26, 2024; Time to be announced Palestine vs Bangladesh Venue to be announced June 6, 2024; Time to be announced Bangladesh vs Australia Venue to be announced June 11, 2024; Time to be announced Lebanon vs Bangladesh Venue to be announced Bangladesh’s Performance in the First Round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Bangladesh played two matches against Maldives in the first round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The first match took place on October 12, and the second match was on October 17. Bangladesh drew against the Maldives in the 2026 Football World Cup qualifier playoffs’ first match. Jamal Bhuiyan’s team left the field with a last-minute goal to draw 1-1 in the first leg.