‘NZ might make spinning wickets as we lost our best spinner’

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes remarked that New Zealand might now opt for some spinning wickets since Tigers lost their best spinner in Shakib Al Hasan.

The Tigers take on New Zealand in the first ODI tomorrow and without the ace all-rounder in the side the challenge will be that much harder. Rhodes confirmed of Shakib's absence from the squad.

"He stayed behind [in Bangladesh]. He did it in the final of the BPL. He almost got through the whole series but in the last game he copped it and now we are without him," he said.

Without Shakib, the Tigers are left with just two spinners in Mehedi Miraz and Naeem Hasan in the ODI side. Rhodes smilingly commented that the wickets in New Zealand, which generally favour the pacers, might have help for spinners now that Shakib is not there.

"I don't anticipate too much turn on these wickets. It will bounce and carry and the wrist spinners will get a bit of grip out of it. They know we have lost our best spinner in Shakib Al Hasan. So maybe they will make some spinning wickets for us," he concluded.