Tigers to begin New Zealand tour with ODIs in March

BD will play three ODIs, T20s each at end of NZ's summer schedule

September 30, 2020 00:00:00

A day after Bangladesh's trip to Sri Lanka was postponed, the itinerary for the Tigers' tour of New Zealand has been finalised, report agencies.

The Tigers will play three ODIs and three T20 Internationals against host New Zealand with all the matches taking place at different venues, according to a complete schedule revealed by the New Zealand cricket board on Tuesday.

The summer will be a busy one for the Kiwis as the West Indies, Pakistan and Australia are all scheduled to visit New Zealand, and the tight schedule will culminate with Tamim Iqbal and Co. travelling to the Island nation for a full limited-overs series.

This will be the first overseas tour by the Bangladesh Cricket team following the interruption to international cricket fixtures from March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh team is expected to leave here for New Zealand on February 24 in 2021.

The Tigers will start the three-match ODI series on March 13 at University of Otago Oval in Dunedin, the 2nd ODI will be held on March 17 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and the 3rd and last ODI billed for March 20 at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The first of the three-match T20 series will be held on March 23 at McLean Park in Napier, the 2nd match on March 26 at Eden Park in Auckland and the last match on March 28 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon Tuesday said, "I must compliment NZC for confirming the itinerary which was a real challenge due to the pandemic."

"We are really looking forward to play in New Zealand. Bangladesh and New Zealand have established a very healthy rivalry in limited overs cricket in recent years and this series promises to be exciting and competitive." he added.

The last tour of New Zealand by Tigers was cut short prematurely due to a terrorist attack on a mosque in Christchurch as the team flew back citing safety concerns.

The Kiwis' summer will kick off with a T20 against the West Indies in Auckland on November 27, the first of a three-match series which will be followed by two Tests against the Caribbeans.

A series against Pakistan will follow in December-January where the teams will play three T20s and two Tests before clashing with their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in five 20-over encounters.

The New Zealand board also finalised their domestic Twenty-20 tournament Super Smash which will kick off on December 24.