Clean swept in ODIs, Bangladesh seek change in fortunes in T20Is
Overview
New Zealand v Bangladesh, 1st T20I
Seddon Park, Hamilton
Sunday, 28 March, 2 pm local
The ODI series loss to New Zealand has given Bangladesh a lot to think about as they go into the T20I leg of the series with preparations for this year's T20 World Cup in mind. The Bangladesh batting order will look disparate this time around due to the unavailability of veterans, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
Pace bowler Hasan Mahmud is returning to Bangladesh after failing to regain full fitness before the #NZvBAN T20I series.
— ICC (@ICC) March 27, 2021
Mahmud had not played or trained since the first ODI due to a stiff back. pic.twitter.com/GHsZ3v0HzK
At the other end, New Zealand’s squad features young guns – Finn Allen and Will Young – rising from impeccable performances in the Super Smash, the country's domestic T20 competition, who are likely to be tested before finalizing New Zealand’s squad for the T20WC.
The hosts will participate in the series without the geniuses of Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Colin Munro, Tim Siefert, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, and Mitchell Santner who have all been rested while Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne return to the mix after injury woes.
Remember the last time
The last time both sides faced each other in the shortest format was when Bangladesh toured New Zealand in 2017. In that series, the visitors were wiped away with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat. Bangladesh were taken aback by strong batting displays from Williamson, Munro, and Corey Anderson, supported by Ferguson and Ish Sodhi in the bowling.
An action-packed Sunday at Seddon Park awaits with the #NZvBAN and #NZvAUS T20I doubleheaders 🤩
— ICC (@ICC) March 27, 2021
📸 @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/ME5FdLy1d3
What they said
Devon Conway (New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman): “We reset. We go again. It is about to continue doing the small things well and taking care of the results as they happen throughout the series. It is about ticking the right boxes. We are not taking performances in each game for granted and doing what we can as a team unit.”
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh ODI Captain): “It is a different format. A lot of main New Zealand players are not playing but we have exciting talent. It is a different thing to have exciting talent but it's a different thing that you can be exciting and you can have talent but you also need to come and perform and I’m sure the team will do well I can wish them very well. The T20 world cup is also coming soon and these three T20s will be equally important”
