We are around six weeks away from the beginning of the World T20 and the build-up matches come along thick and fast in September, starting with the opening match of the series between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Given the conditions in the UAE, these two nations will head there hopeful of delivering the goods and coming away with the silverware and the matches here will be used as preparation for the big dance to come.
Bangladesh
You would think Bangladesh would go into this series in pretty good spirits after they recently took Australia to the cleaners in this part of the world. I think it is fair to say that New Zealand are more streetwise than Australia so this might be a tougher challenge for the home side, but if they are going to be genuine contenders in the World T20 then it is one they need to embrace and come out on the right side of really.
The Bangladesh bowlers delivered the goods in that series and in these conditions you would imagine they will do so again but the batsmen might need to put up more runs than they did against Australia because New Zealand are more competent with the bat even in these conditions. This first match might be the most important one for Bangladesh as if they can reassert their dominance then their confidence will build and the tourists might start searching for things they can’t get.
New Zealand
The Kiwis are certainly going to head to the UAE as one of the favourites to win the World T20 title next month. They have a good balance to any squad that they pick and they are one of the shrewder nations around too which is why they have allowed the majority of their World Cup squad to go to the IPL and get experience of the conditions out there rather than take in these matches and the ones which follow them in in Pakistan.
This is a second strong New Zealand outfit but just because a number of them haven’t been named in the squad for the World T20, Covid very much remains a thing and players might needed to be drafted in so there is still a motivation for everyone to show some form on this tour just in case. You feel the New Zealand batsmen are going to be the ones under pressure in this match as their bowlers should be capable of delivering the goods.
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Team News
Bangladesh are expected to bring Liton Das back into the side after he has recovered from injury. He is likely to open the batting along with Mohammad Naim in what could be the only change from the side which beat Australia.
New Zealand are going to be forced into a bunch of changes with only Tom Latham, Colin de Grandhomme and Doug Bracewell in any way experienced. They are expected to give debuts to Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie.
Betting
I expect Shakib-al-Hasan to be a big factor in this series. He will be facing second string bowlers in the match, and New Zealand might only have one genuine out and out spinner in their side, and he will be bowling at batsmen who are a good deal below the calibre of the likes of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor so it makes sense that the Bangladesh talisman will have a big series, beginning with a decent outing in this opening match.
He has a performance line in this first game of 37.5 points which looks a little low for a player of his ability. He is going to bat at three for Bangladesh in this match and he will bowl a full four overs. He is also likely to field in key positions as well and when you consider this total is a couple of wickets or a wicket and a few runs then he doesn’t really need to have a spectacular game to cover this total. He covered this line in four of the five matches against Australia and can do it again here.
Tips
Back S.al Hasan’s Performance – Over 37.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
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