Bangladesh are looking for better results in New Zealand in their upcoming two-match Test series against the hosts, after their dismal performances in the previous tours.
Bangladesh to date have played 32 international matches in New Zealand, and have failed to register a single win.
But Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque is hoping for something different this time around.
“I am excited about starting well in the new year, rather than thinking about what happened in the past. Starting well gives more chance of doing well in subsequent challenges. I know we haven’t done well in New Zealand, but it is best to be optimistic if we want to do well in the present,” he said in a virtual press conference on Friday.
He added, “We usually win when we play well as a team, regardless of where we are playing. If we don’t combine, I don’t think we can get a good result. I think even if someone scores a hundred or a double-hundred, we need bowlers to take the 20 wickets. Everyone has to chip in, for us to do well. New Zealand is always challenging for us, especially their pace attack. We know it well. I think we should take on this challenge.”
Bangladesh are without two of their key players- Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan in this tour. Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said that being without Shakib was a big loss, whereas Mominul hoped to replace Tamim.
“Shakib is a big loss. He is one of the best all-rounders in the world. He balances our team nicely. He bats in the top six and bowls a lot,” Domingo said.
“Our No 1 opener Tamim bhai is missing. He is one of the best openers in the world. So we are trying to replace him in this series,” Mominul said about Tamim.
New Zealand on the other hand, are looking to continue their formula of attack at home and stand-in skipper Tom Latham wants continuity after being crowned World Test Championship in June 2021.
“We've been having some really good success in these conditions but also away in these recent years. It's more about [continuing] what this group's been doing and have my own spin on things,” he said.
Bangladesh’s first Test against New Zealand will start at 4 AM in Mount Maunganui. The match will be broadcast by GTV and T-Sports.
