Bangladesh to begin T20 WC preparation with New Zealand series

While Bangladesh are upbeat to break the T20 jinx
on New Zealand soil, after snapping the losing streak in Test and ODI, they
will also start a preparation campaign for the upcoming T20 World Cup from
here.

The T20 World Cup is set to be held in the USA and West Indies in June, next
year and Bangladesh will get 11 T20 matches, including three against New
Zealand in this series for their preparation.

In between the Bangladeshi players would also play the Bangladesh Premier
League (BPL) T20, starting on January 19, next year.

“We got 11 games now and then the BPL as well but this is a national team so
we are trying to get our combination and give the players kind of roles that
they will play during the World Cup and so that’s the plan,” Bangladesh head
coach Chandika Hathurusingha said at McLean Park in Napier as his side gear
up for first T20 against New Zealand tomorrow (Wednesday).

“Plan wise condition dictates. Lot of the plans we want to play at the same
time we want to keep one eye on the T20 World Cup and so we are trying to get
our plans right for that,” he added.

“I said 11 matches from now to the World Cup and that’s what we got in terms
of matches. Whether it’s ideal or not that’s all we got we have to get our
plans and roles right within that period,” he said.

It is expected Bangladesh would tinker with the combination to get a perfect
combination for the World Cup. But that doesn’t mean, they would compromise
with their elusive victory on New Zealand soil.

Hathurusingha hoped that his charges would be highly ambitious to snap losing
streak in T20 format also, having done it in ODI and Test format earlier.
Though Bangladesh won their maiden Test here last year, they broke ODI jinx
just a couple of days ago when they routed New Zealand by nine wickets in
third ODI, what turned out to be dead rubber after the hosts won the first
two matches.

Bangladesh managed to get the ODI victory in New Zealand after it eluded them
18 times here. In T20 format, they however so far conceded nine straight
defeats against the Kiwis on New Zealand soil.

“We haven’t won a T20 game over here. This was the same as one-day cricket
but then we managed to win the last game,” Hathurusingha remarked.

“Certainly it will help (ODI win over New Zealand at Napier) mentally when
you have a good win always you feel good and because you have done something
you want to repeat again no matter what the format is and that will give us
confidence leading into the T20Is,” he commented.

Bangladesh will also be looking forward to keep their unbeaten streak intact
in the shortest format having won all the three T20I series they played so
far in 2023. The series victory however came against reigning T20 World Cup
champions England, Ireland and Afghanistan at their own back yard. A T20I
series win in New Zealand will be the icing on the cake for the tourists. (BSS)