Bangladesh’s chance to down NZ
Bangladesh, meanwhile, have a few things working in their favour, apart from playing at home. They defeated Pakistan 2-1 last month after fighting hard in the decider. Tanzid Hasan, the opener, starred with the bat, while Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed made match-winning contributions too. They, however, have a middle-order problem: Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain don’t have role clarity while Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto are in need of substantial scores too.
Taskin, Rana and Mustafizur Rahman, though, provide Bangladesh’s attack with a potent point of difference. Rishad Hossain has also been effective, adding more vaiety to Bangladesh’s attack with his wristspin. How New Zealand tackle pace, spin and heat on Friday, will be a window into how the rest of the white-ball tour goes for the visitors.
Form guide
Bangladesh WLWWL (completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWLWW
In the spotlight: Najmul Hossain Shanto & Tom Latham
Team news: NZ set to ring in the changes
Bangladesh could field the same XI that beat Pakistan 2-1 in the ODI series last month. That will likely leave out Mahidul Islam, Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Saif Hassan, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Towhid Hridoy, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Litton Das (wk), 6 Afif Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand will make at least eight changes since their previous ODI. If Latham keeps wicket, they might have room for three seam-bowling allrounders in Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith and Abbas
New Zealand (probable): 1 Henry Nicholls, 2 Will Young, 3 Nick Kelly, 4 Dean Foxcroft, 5 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 6 Muhammad Abbas, 7 Josh Clarkson, 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Blair Tickner, 10 Will O’Rourke, 11 Jayden Lennox
Pitch and conditions: Early start, heatwave in the offing
There is speculation around the home team’s choice of pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium: will it be faster and bouncier like the Pakistan series in March, or the usual slow-and-low one? The 11am start, with the heatwave around, could causedryness in the surfaces. There is also forecast for a thunderstorm on Friday.
Stats and Trivia
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
