Bangladesh Squad Unchanged

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the first two One Day Internationals of the upcoming series against New Zealand, retaining the same squad that featured in the most recent series against Pakistan. Bangladesh had won that three-match ODI series at home by 2–1.

Five Bangladesh players currently involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will have to return midway to join the national side for the New Zealand series. The players are Tanzid Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Rishad Hossain, and Shoriful Islam. Their no-objection certificates (NOCs) were valid until 12 April, requiring their early return for international duty. Parvez Hossain, who is also participating in the PSL, has not been included in the ODI squad and holds an NOC valid until 25 April.

The squad selection marks the first announcement made by the four-member selection panel led by Habibul Bashar. However, the panel has made no alterations to the squad previously selected by the former committee headed by Gazi Ashraf Hossain for the Pakistan series.

Explaining the decision, chief selector Habibul Bashar stated that Bangladesh had performed well in the previous series and that some players who were not part of the playing XI still contributed as squad members. He also noted that several players had recently been introduced into the setup.

Bashar further emphasised the importance of continuity in selection policy, stating that players who are introduced into the squad should be given sufficient opportunities to establish themselves. He added that the team management believes in maintaining consistency, as the players who featured in the previous series had not performed poorly.

New Zealand are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on 13 April for a tour comprising three One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals. The first two ODIs will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, with the third ODI taking place at the Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. The T20I series will also be split between Chattogram and Dhaka.

Match Schedule

The series will see Bangladesh aiming to build on their recent home success, with the unchanged squad reflecting a preference for stability ahead of a busy international schedule.