[CRK]
Bangladesh Not Underestimating New Zealand’s ‘Under-Strength’ Squad
Ahead of the series opener, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed a firm belief that the New Zealand side visiting Bangladesh is not to be taken lightly, despite being viewed as an under-strength squad. Miraz, who has led Bangladesh to two consecutive ODI series wins, is focused on maintaining momentum and focusing on the Professionalism of the game.
Speaking on the eve of the series opener, Mehidy stated, “We cannot see New Zealand as a weak side,” emphasizing that every match is the key to earning ranking points and overall team growth. He noted that the victory in the series against New Zealand would be a big achievement for the team, stating that the team is currently in ‘good shape’ and bonding well following their recent successes.
The Perspective of Tom Latham
On the other side of the field, New Zealand captain Tom Latham is seeing this series as an opportunity for his players to express themselves. Latham, seeking to regain his place in the middle order after being dropped recently, has encouraged his squad to avoid overthinking the international level and instead rely on their domestic form.
“I think the goal for us is for everyone to bring their own skill. We have a blueprint and a style that we like to play with, but we want guys to come in and play the way that they’ve played for their domestic sides back home in New Zealand,” Latham explained. He clarified that while some players may lack experience, every member of the squad has represented New Zealand at some point, meaning they are familiar with the international arena.
Analyzing the Bowling Attack
Latham acknowledged the strengths of Bangladesh’s bowling attack, specifically praising the pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Nahid Rana. He noted that the pace attack has significant experience in local conditions, and while he is prepared for the pace, he remains wary of the amount of spin that often plays a role on Bangladeshi surfaces.
“[Bangladesh’s seam attack] has quite a bit of experience, especially in these conditions when you look at Taskin, Mustafizur, and obviously Nahid Rana, who’s made a name for himself over the last couple of seasons,” Latham said. He added that “Bangladesh are playing great cricket at the moment, so we’re going to be challenged.”
Batting Adaptability on Variable Surfaces
Mehidy Hasan Miraz also touched upon the batting challenges that will actually occur during the series. Reflecting on the series against Pakistan, where both sides were bowled out cheaply at least once, he emphasized the importance of adaptability.
“We are hopeful of playing this series on good pitches, like we did against Pakistan. You also have to bear in mind that both Pakistan and us were bowled out cheaply at least once in that series. I think it is more important how the players manage themselves on any type of wicket,” Mehidy concluded.
For both Mehidy and Tom Latham, this series is more than just a one-off event; it is a critical point in their respective ODI careers. While Mehidy’s captaincy is still being evaluated by the team management, this series against the Black Caps will be a further test of his leadership and the stability of the team’s performance.
