Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim believes they their forthcoming New Zealand tour will be an ideal preparation for the World Cup this year.
Bangladesh will visit New Zealand for three one-day internationals and same number of Test matches as the first ODI will take place on 13th February.
“It will be the ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup. There may be high-scoring matches. If we can overcome those challenges, it will only help us for the future,” said Mushfiq about the tour.
But the players will need to switch the format as they have been busy in the twnety20 cricket in Bangladesh Premier League over the last couple of months.
That raised the question regarding their preparation ahead of the series which will be held in a seaming-friendly conditions.
But Mushfiq believes whatever is the format, match practice is the most suitable mean of preparing for a series and Tigers are in best shape ahead of the tour.
#Ebadat, #Shafiul to replace #Taskin in #NZ https://t.co/EOiL6j9riI
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 5, 2019
“Ideally there should be a week’s break but still, our first game is on February 13. So we have seven or eight days left. We are in match practice, so there can’t be anything better than that. It helps you fitness-wise too,” said Mushfiq on Monday.
With only a couple of matches left in BPL, BCB has decided to sent few of the players in advance along with manager Khaled Mashud while others will join the contingent after the completion of the franchise league.
According to sources, Mushfiq, Mahmudulah, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Naeem Hasan will leave to New Zealand today.
Bangladesh’s Test record against New Zealand is nothing to be proud of as they have lost 10 of the 13 matches and could only draw the other three. The record in New Zealand is abysmal so far as they have lost all seven Test matches till date.
New Zealand is a tough place for South Asian sides but in shorter versions they are getting some success as India have beaten the hosts 4-1 in the recently concluded series.
But, like Tests Bangladesh have also lost all 10 ODIs against the kiwis in New Zealand. However, Mushfiq believes like the previous series, when they played a couple of close games, will fight hard and may overcome this time around.
“It will be a difficult challenge in New Zealand. India won the ODI series and New Zealand fought really hard. They have a really good bowling attack. But, we ran them close in two ODIs on our last New Zealand tour, in Nelson and Christchurch I believe that our team will do well this team,” said Mushfiq.
Bangladesh pacer Rubel Hossain echoed Mushfiq’s feeling about the preparation for the tour.
Media Release : Bangladesh in New Zealand 2019.
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) February 5, 2019
Shafiul Islam included for ODIs, Ebadat Hossain for Tests.https://t.co/YFja7VjF0M
“As Mushfiq vai said, we are in the match practice. Nothing can be better than his,” said Rubel to the journalists on Monday.
Rubel, who played a good World Cup in Australia-New Zealand back in 2015, said their experience may help to fetch the result in their favour in the forthcoming tour.
“We have toured New Zealand several times. We know about the wickets. They are sometimes batting friendly. I think it will be very good. All of us will practice seriously there. Their condition and our condition is not the same. Moreover, we all are in the game. That will be very helpful. Being in the match provides rhythm. It boosts concentration and other things,” said Rubel.
