![Bangladesh cricket team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776314379624_Bangladesh.jpg?type=hq)
Bangladesh cricket team [Source: AFP]
ODI cricket is set to return amid the T20 extravaganza in the sub-continent, as Bangladesh hosts New Zealand in a three-match ODI series. The tour is scheduled to begin with the first ODI at the Sher-E-Bangla International Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, April 17, at 10:30 AM (IST).
Bangladesh will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the ODIs, and many players, who are currently playing the PSL 2026, are set to join the squad for the series against a second-string visiting team.
Having defeated Pakistan in an ODI series recently, Bangladesh would be high on confidence in the early days of their World Cup 2027 preparations.
As things stand, they have a settled group of core players in the ODI roster, and as they take on New Zealand in the first ODI on Friday, we predict the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand for the series opener.
Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, 2026
Top Order: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto
Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan currently look like Bangladesh's first-choice opening pair after the series win over Pakistan. Tanzid was their best batter against Pakistan with a hundred and a fifty in the series, scoring 175 runs, averaging 87.50 at 112.17, while Saif Hassan could only get 52 runs, but is likely to be backed for some time.
Former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is a reliable name across formats for them, with an experience of 61 ODIs for his 1759 runs with three hundreds and 10 fifties. Nonetheless, the average of 30.85 is something he would like to improve for the quality he possesses.
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Middle Order and All Rounders: Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Rishad Hossain
Yet another former captain, Litton Das, who will also be their wicketkeeper in the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand, is a reliable middle-order batter and could complete his 100 ODIs in the New Zealand series. He was their second-highest run getter last series, with 85 runs, averaging 42.5 at 94.44. With 5 hundreds and 12 fifties, he continues at number 4.
Towhid Hridoy confirmed his spot at number 5 in the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand after his crucial 48*(44) in the series decider against Pakistan to take Bangladesh to 290 in a close 11-run win over the opposition. He is also about to complete 50 ODIs for the national team and averages 35.28.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz can provide a calming influence in the middle of chaos with the bat, playing a stable knock according to the situation. He has 117 ODIs to his name, scoring close to 1800 runs, alongside the 126 wickets with his off-break bowling, conceding at just 4.72 runs per over. He can bat anywhere between 6 and 8 in the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand, as per the requirements.
The two designated finishers of this team will be the spin-bowling all-rounders, Afif Hossain and Rishad Hossain. Afif has 686 runs in 32 innings, averaging 27.44 at a strike rate of 88, alongside 4 wickets with his off-spin. The leggie, Rishad, interestingly strikes higher in ODIs than T20Is, at 135.87 down the order in 14 innings and has 26 wickets, including a 6/35.
Bowlers: Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana
The Bangladesh pace-bowling trio will be led by the experienced duo of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, and the rising star Nahid Rana will accompany them in the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand.
Taskin Ahmed, with 86 ODIs played, has 123 wickets to his name, conceding at 5.37 runs per over, and he also picked 6 wickets in 3 innings against Pakistan, including 4/49 in the decider. He will be on the new ball duties for the series again. Mustafizur Rahman, with 182 wickets in 117 innings, is their strike bowler, who will use skills to bowl across phases of play.
The 23-year-old Nahid Rana, who has shown great promise in the early days of his international career, will complete the lineup with 13 wickets in 8 innings at just 5.21 runs per over.
He was the leading wicket-taker against Pakistan with 8 scalps in 3 games, including a 5/24 and retains his spot in the Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand over someone like Shoriful Islam, who has 58 wickets in 40 ODI matches.
Bangladesh Playing XI vs New Zealand- Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana
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