Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

BAN vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs New Zealand 1st T20I Key Players | Dhaka Pitch Report

Bangladesh, after achieving a historic series win over Australia, will lock horns with another trans-tasman opponent ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Not only have Bangladesh enjoyed white-ball success at home against New Zealand, but they will be playing a new-look Black Caps side looking to find their feet right away in foreign conditions. This rivalry is one of the most home-dominated in world cricket, with Bangladesh winning their last seven ODI matches at home vs New Zealand (in 2010 and 2013), while the Black Caps have never lost a home game vs Bangladesh in any format.

Expect the Tigers to stick to the same formula that served them so well against Australia. Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan did recently call for “better pitches” for this series, but spin will still play a key role as often the case in Dhaka. For New Zealand, only Colin de Grandhomme, Scott Kuggeleijn and skipper Tom Latham have at least 10 T20Is of experience, and the likes of Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell and Will Young will be key.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Bangladesh:

• Shakib Al Hasan produced a gem of a performance in the ODIs vs NZ in 2010, leading Bangladesh to a famous 4-0 series win. However, Shakib has a surprisingly poor all-round record against New Zealand in T20Is, with just 72 runs in six matches (avg. 12) and two wickets (avg. 86.50).
• Nonetheless, one can expect Shakib to be a factor on this ground against an inexperienced team. He has 32 wickets in 24 T20Is at Mirpur, along with 462 runs.
• Mushfiqur Rahim is back for Bangladesh. The classy right-hander will provide much-needed solidity in the middle order. He scored a half-century in his only home T20I vs New Zealand to date.
• However, Rahim will be aiming to improve on a T20I average of 19.60 on this ground. In all T20s at Shere Bangla Stadium, Rahim has ammassed 2,549 runs in 101 innings at a fine average of 34.59.
• No player has more runs on this ground in T20Is than Mahmudullah. The skipper has scored 568 runs in 28 T20Is at an average of 40.57 and strike rate of 129.09. Also, he has the most runs of any Bangladesh player vs New Zealand (186, avg. 20.66, SR 108.13).
• Afif Hossain was impressive in the recent series against Australia. Afif had the highest strike rate of any player (122.47) who scored at least 50 runs, in what were difficult batting conditions. Key finisher.
• Watch out for Mustafizur Rahman. Coming off a simply brilliant series against Australia (seven wickets, econ. 3.52), the ‘Fizz’ will be key once again in these conditions. He took 5/22 vs New Zealand in the 2016 World Cup, and has 88 wickets in 63 T20s on this ground.
• Nasum Ahmed took eight wickets in the Australia series, and will be key in conditions where spin will be a factor. As will Mahedi Hasan.

New Zealand:

• Henry Nicholls has not played a T20I since 2019, with no T20Is in Asia since 2017. He scored just 15 runs in three innings in Asia in 2016-17, so Nicholls and New Zealand will be hoping he adjusts to the conditions quickly here.
• Skipper Tom Latham will be crucial in guiding a New Zealand side lacking experience. He is a fine player of spin, so watch out for his array of sweep shots against Bangladesh’s spinners. His last T20I was in 2017, and his last T20 was a 57-ball century in 2019 for Canterbury.
• Will Young enjoyed success against Bangladesh earlier this year in the batting-friendly conditions of New Zealand (half-century on debut). The challenge will be tougher away from home, but Young has shown excellent adaptability across formats in his international career to date.
• Although Rachin Ravindra hasn’t set the world on fire in domestic T20 cricket (avg. 17.12 in 18 innings), he has 19 wickets to his name. He will be key with his spin bowling here. As will Ajaz Patel.
• Colin de Grandhomme returns to the NZ setup, and will be looking to make a mark as the team’s finisher.
• Hamish Bennett has experience playing in Bangladesh. He played two ODIs in 2010, taking 3/44 on debut. He and Scott Kuggeleijn will be key, as Kuggeleijn has experience and success bowling on slow surfaces (top wicket-taker in CPL 2020 with 17 in 11 matches).

Stats and Facts

• New Zealand and Bangladesh have played just the one T20I in Bangladesh. This was in 2013, and New Zealand won the match by 15 runs.
• Bangladesh have 602 games of T20I experience in their squad. New Zealand? Just 100.
• New Zealand beat Bangladesh 3-0 in both the ODIs and T20Is in New Zealand earlier this year. Bangladesh will be looking to extract some revenge.

Possible Playing XI

Liton Das is expected to return and open, likely in place of Soumya Sarkar. Mushfiqur Rahim is also set to feature.

Bangladesh: 1. Mohammad Naim, 2. Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim, 5. Mahmudullah (c), 6. Nurul Hasan (wk), 7. Afif Hossain, 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Shoriful Islam, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Nasum Ahmed

New Zealand are likely to go in with three spin options in Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie. Finn Allen is unavailable due to testing positive for COVID-19.

New Zealand: 1. Henry Nicholls, 2. Will Young, 3. Rachin Ravindra, 4. Tom Latham (c & wk), 5. Tom Blundell, 6. Cole McConchie, 7. Colin de Grandhomme, 8. Doug Bracewell/Matt Henry, 9. Scott Kuggeleijn, 10. Hamish Bennett, 11. Ajaz Patel

Shere Bangla National Stadium Mirpur Dhaka Pitch Report and Weather

The pitches were a dream for the spinners and cutters in the Australia series. According to Bangladesh ESPNCricinfo correspondent Mohammad Isam, more slow, low conditions are on the menu for this series. The team batting first has won six of the past eight T20s on this ground.

There is a chance of some showers in the evening.

Fantasy Cricket

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Bangladesh, at home, with a near full-strength team, should have enough to beat a very inexperienced New Zealand side.