Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selector Habibul Bashar thought that the extra time spent by the Tigers in New Zealand will in fact help them to get adjusted to the condition better and help them in preparing better for their upcoming series against the Kiwis.
Bangladesh team are currently in Christchurch and have been practicing at the Lincoln Green in small groups of seven ahead of their three-match ODI and three-match T20I series, starting with the ODI series from March 20 in Dunedin.
The Tigers reached New Zealand on February 24, almost a month before their first ODI, and had to spend the first three day of their mandatory 14-day quarantine being self-isolated in their hotel rooms before being allowed to do gym sessions and practice in small groups. And according to Bashar, the extra time spent in New Zealand will only help the Tigers in being better prepared for the series.
“Before coming to New Zealand, it was very important how well we can get acclimatized to the condition here. Wickets in New Zealand are more or less the same as the one on which we are practicing here currently. We will also get to practice in Queenstown for a while.
“So, the hard work that we have put in by coming here early will only benefit us for the series. The condition here is completely different than in Bangladesh. So, it was very important for us to come in here early and get adjusted to the condition. It maybe a bit colder in Dunedin but the wicket will be more or less the same I think,” said Bashar, who is currently with the team in New Zealand, during a recorded video message to the BCB today.
“A very good thing about this tour in New Zealand is that we will be allowed to roam freely after the 14-day quarantine period. In other countries, players have to stay inside the bubble for the entirety of that tour, which is more than a month. That in fact is more difficult. But here we will be free after 14 days and can roam around. We can go anywhere and enjoy the time outside of cricket a lot,” Bashar said.
The players are also expected to conduct a five-day training camp in Queenstown after the mandatory quarantine period.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play three ODIs, starting from March 20 in Dunedin. The next two games are scheduled for March 23 and 26 in Christchurch and Wellington respectively.
The visitors will then take part in the first T20I on March 28 in Hamilton before the second and third T20Is are played in Napier and Auckland on March 30 and April 1.
