Can batsmen overcome mental block?

"Mushfiqur [Rahim] is a team man and he is happy to share his keeping work with [Nurul Hasan] Sohan which is absolutely fine. He's happy and Sohan is also happy. Sohan is keeping really well and Mushfiqur is outstanding. So, it will be better for our team to share the workload."

— Mahmudullah Riyad, Bangladesh T20 captain

Bangladesh's batting department will get a big boost as experienced Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das return to add experience to the side for the five-match T20I series against the Kiwis.

Despite a historic 4-1 series win against Australia last month, Bangladesh's batting remained one of the areas to improve upon as the slow and low Mirpur surface proved extremely difficult for the batters in the slow and low Mirpur surface.

Bangladesh's highest total in the five games against Australia was 131, but the hosts successfully defended their lowest ever score of 122 in the fifth and final game.

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad's 52-run knock was the only fifty-plus score by a Bangladeshi in the five games as both the teams banked on bowling heavy line-ups considering the nature of the surface.

The scenario may be pretty similar when it comes to the Mirpur pitch, which is once again expected to play on the slower side, especially during this time of the year when overcast conditions and humidity cause dampness on the surface that could lead to yet another slow and low pitch.

"I think it's very tough to predict the Mirpur wicket but I think it will be better to move forward with a positive frame of mind and expect the pitch to play well. But if we need to adjust, we can adjust. The mindset is important. If you rather think it's a 110 or 120-run surface, then you are going in with a negative mindset. Considering the strength of our batting, if we go with a positive frame of mind, we can put up a good score on the board," Mahmudullah told the media ahead of the series against New Zealand yesterday.

The series against the Kiwis happens to be the Tigers' last international commitment ahead next month's ICC T20 World Cup and both the think-tank and Mahmudullah will be hoping that there is improvement in terms of batting.

Mushfiqur and Liton's return will strengthen that department and, with the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah on their side, it will surely bolster the team management's confidence and allow them to be more courageous when it comes to their batting approach against a relatively inexperienced New Zealand side.

It will be crucial for Bangladesh to tick all the boxes right and gain confidence against the Kiwis, but it is also an opportunity for the Tigers to register a maiden T20I win against New Zealand and possibly eye a first-ever series win against the Black Caps as they did against Australia not so long ago.