BAN vs NZ 2026, BAN vs NZ 1st ODI Match Preview

BAN vs NZ 2026, BAN vs NZ 1st ODI Match Preview


Bangladesh’s likelihood to down NZ

In the absence of the first-choice gamers, who’re away on the IPL or PSL, New Zealand have arrived in Bangladesh with certainly one of their most inexperienced sides. For the first ODI in Dhakathe guests will probably be with out eight gamers who had been within the New Zealand XI within the third ODI towards India in January this yr.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter sees this Bangladesh tour as an opportunity to show their fringe gamers to worldwide stress. Muhammad Abbas, Adi Ashok, Blair Tickner and Dean Foxcroft are amongst these fringe gamers. There’s additionally left-arm fingerspinner Jayden Lennox who impressed in his debut collection in India. He will probably be anticipated to play a much bigger position in Bangladesh. Tom Latham, Will Young and Henry Nicholls are the acquainted faces in a new-look facet.

Bangladesh, in the meantime, has just a few issues working of their favor, aside from taking part in at residence. They defeated Pakistan 2-1 final month after combating arduous within the decider. Tanzid Hasan, the opener, starred with the bat, whereas Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed made match-winning contributions too. They, nevertheless, have a middle-order drawback: Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain do not have position readability whereas Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto are in want of considerable scores too.

Taskin, Rana and Mustafizur Rahman, although, present Bangladesh’s assault with a strong level of distinction. Rishad Hossain has additionally been efficient, including extra selection to Bangladesh’s assaults along with his wristspin. How New Zealand sort out tempo, spin and warmth on Friday, will probably be a window into how the remainder of the white-ball tour goes for the guests.

Form information

Bangladesh WLWWL (accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
New Zealand WWLWW

In the highlight: Najmul Hossain Shanto & Tom Latham

Najmul Hossain Shanto will probably be anticipated to deal with the current slide in his ODI profession graph. His 992 runs in 2023 was the very best in a calendar yr by a Bangladesh batter in 17 years. He adopted it up by averaging 71.5 in 2024, however he has only a single half-century since 2025. Recently, he made solely 54 runs in three innings towards Pakistan. Bangladesh sees Shanto as a long-term chief, so the United States is on him to step up.

Tom Latham you might have an opportunity to regain his kind in ODIs after an detached interval. He hasn’t reached a half-century for the reason that Champions Trophy, along with his high rating in his final 9 innings being an unbeaten 39 towards the West Indies in Napier. He missed the ODIs towards India earlier this yr, however now returns as captain of one other inexperienced line-up in Bangladesh. He has carried out this short-term job towards the identical opponents earlier than, with an ODI revival this time within the offing.

Team information: NZ set to ring within the modifications

Bangladesh may discipline the identical XI that beat Pakistan 2-1 within the ODI collection final month. That will seemingly omit Mahidul Islam, Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam.

Bangladesh (possible): 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 the least eight modifications since their earlier ODI. If Latham retains wicket, they could have room for 3 seamless-bowling all-rounders in Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith and Abbas

New Zealand (possible): 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 circumstances: Early begin, heatwave within the offing

There is theory across the residence workforce’s selection of pitch on the Shere Bangla National Stadium: will it’s sooner and bouncer just like the Pakistan collection in March, or the standard slow-and-low one? The 11am begin, with the heatwave round, may trigger dryness on the surfaces. There can be forecast for a thunderstorm on Friday.

Stats and Trivia

  • New Zealand have not gained the primary match of an ODI collection in Bangladesh since 2004. They misplaced the corresponding matches in 2008, 2010 and 2013, whereas the 2023 opener was a washout.
  • Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz requires one other 209 runs to grow to be the second Bangladeshi cricketer to achieve 2,000 runs to go together with 100-plus wickets in ODIs.
  • Rubel Hossain, who retired from worldwide cricket earlier this week, is the one bowler to take a hat-trick in ODIs between Bangladesh and New Zealand.
  • Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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