Bangladesh retain squad for first New Zealand ODIs

Bangladesh named an unchanged squad Saturday for the first two matches of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, the first announcement by the newly formed selection panel, report agencies.

The four-member panel, led by Habibul Bashar Sumon, opted to stick with the same group that featured in the ODI series against Pakistan last month, citing continuity and overall team performance.

Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-1 in the home ODI series. The selectors also backed out-of-form opener Saif Hassan who managed just 52 runs in three matches in the Pakistan series. "We want to give him more opportunities before making a decision. We do not want to go into a chop-and-change approach," he said.

Saif, who scored just 52 runs across three matches in the series, has faced growing scrutiny over his place in the national team.

However, Bashar stated that the selectors were committed to giving him a fair chance to find his rhythm, particularly with the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

The Bangladesh selectors have been keeping a close eye on all players as the team gears up for a packed schedule in the coming months. Bashar expressed confidence that everyone in the squad would eventually get their chance to prove their worth. "We have a lot of matches ahead of us, and no doubt, everyone will get opportunities. Having a player like Soumya on the bench means our team is in a strong position," he added. New Zealand are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on Monday for the white-ball tour which includes three ODIs and three T20Is. The opening two ODIs will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 17 and 20 followed by the third on April 23 at Chattogram. The T20I series will begin in Chattogram with matches on April 27 and 29, before concluding in Dhaka on May 02.