Tigers leave for New Zealand

Bangladesh left for Christchurch yesterday to take part in a tri-nation series also involving hosts New Zealand and Pakistan, boarding a flight at 11:55pm.

The Tigers are expected to reach Christchurch on October 2 ahead of the opening game of the series against Pakistan at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the venue for all the games, on October 7. Bangladesh will then face New Zealand in their second game on October 9. The final is scheduled for October 14.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who was engaged in the Caribbean Premier League, will join the team directly in New Zealand.

The tri-nation series in New Zealand will play a crucial role in the Tigers' preparations ahead of the mega-event in Australia, which they will travel to directly from New Zealand.

Bangladesh won two T20Is against the UAE last week and the think-tank will be hoping to form the perfect team combination for the upcoming tri-nation with the upcoming flagship event in mind.

Two stand-by players were also named, with batter Soumya Sarkar and pacer Shoriful Islam in the squad for the tri-nation series as back-ups.

Left-arm seamer Shoriful proved instrumental against the UAE in the first game, picking up three wickets, but Soumya did not feature in that series.

The team management once again opted for the makeshift opening pair in the form of Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman against the UAE.