‘A great opportunity as a team’

Following a historic 4-1 series win at home against Australia last month, a spirited Bangladesh will look to continue their dominance at home against a relatively inexperienced New Zealand side as the first of the five-match T20I series begins today.

The scenario will be pretty similar to the series against Australia, with the Black Caps without a single member of their upcoming ICC World T20 squad. That leaves a bunch of inexperienced cricketers to take on the challenge in alien Mirpur conditions.

Bangladesh have never won a match against New Zealand in the shortest format, losing all 10 encounters. The onus is on them to continue the winning momentum and gain confidence for the ICC T20 World Cup, starting next month.

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad will also remember the thrashing in New Zealand earlier this year, when the visitors went lost all six white-ball games, including the three-match T20I series. The Tigers will surely try to maximise their home advantage.

"I think it's a great opportunity as a team (to win a maiden T20I against New Zealand) and we can keep our standards intact. We always say that we are a very good side at home and we have the urge to prove that and we will try to do that," Mahmudullah told the media during a virtual press conference yesterday.

The 35-year-old was also questioned about the impact of the decision to split wicket-keeping duties between Mushfiqur Rahim and Nurul Hasan Sohan for the first four games and Mahmudullah informed that both the cricketers took it sportingly and were happy with their roles.

"I think there is no such impact. Mushfiqur is a wonderful team man and he is happy to share his keeping duties with (Nurul Hasan) Sohan. Things are absolutely fine. Mushfiqur is happy and Sohan is also happy. Nurul has been keeping really well and Mushfiqur is also outstanding so I think it will be better for our team to share the workload," he said.

Mahmudullah added that while the visitors lacked experience, the Kiwis always do their homework properly and that means the hosts will have to play disciplined cricket.

On the other hand, Black Caps skipper Tom Latham -- making his comeback to the shortest format after nearly four years to lead a young side -- said that his side were well aware of the probable threats from the hosts.

"They have threats all around their group. We saw how well they played against Australia. They have some great spinners and experience in the group. Our batting will be challenged by their spinners. They have some fearless batsmen, who take the game head-on," Latham told the media yesterday.

The Kiwis underwent training camps in Lincoln and Mount Maunganui keeping the Bangladeshi conditions in mind. Latham also added that they were expecting similar pitches to those that Australia faced last month and added that they needed to adapt to the surfaces for each game.