The Bangladesh squad was in a festive spirit in Napier, having returned from a two-day Christmas holiday ahead of their three-match T20I series against hosts New Zealand, which begins tomorrow at McLean Park.
The Tigers were in a high mood after winning their first-ever ODI series against New Zealand on Kiwi soil. Liton Das, Shoriful Islam, and a few others strolled around the gorgeous city on New Zealand’s North Island.
The Tigers then went to a team meal later that evening.
Al Shahriar Rokon, a former Bangladesh opener who now resides in Napier, paid the players a visit at the Scenic Hotel.
Although Bangladesh lost the three-match ODI series 2-1, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and his team will be confident after a commanding nine-wicket win in the final ODI, in which they bundled out the Kiwis for their lowest-ever ODI total against the Tigers courtesy of a fiery bowling display from the pacers.
The Tigers’ ODI victory comes on the heels of a historic Test victory in New Zealand the previous year, when Bangladesh defeated the hosts at Mount Maunganui.
However, the Tigers will have a difficult battle in T20Is. Bangladesh has only won three T20Is against New Zealand, with all three triumphs coming at home. The Tigers lost all nine T20Is they played against New Zealand in New Zealand.
The fact that the Tigers have undergone a change of fortunes in the format this year would give them some optimism. Apart from the three T20Is at the Asian Games, Bangladesh won seven of their remaining eight T20Is at home this year, including a 3-0 thrashing of reigning champions England.
This will be the Tigers’ lone T20I series outside of Bangladesh in 2023, and the task for Najmul Hossain Shanto and Chandika Hathurusingha-led Bangladesh will be to establish their mettle in the format by earning their first-ever T20I triumph over the Kiwis in their own home.