Team New Zealand is gearing up for a significant tour of Bangladesh, featuring both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches. The tour marks the end of a 10-year hiatus from playing Test and ODI cricket on Bangladeshi soil and promises to be a remarkable chapter in international cricket.

The tour will commence with a three-match ODI series, scheduled to begin on September 21. Following the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Test matches will be contested in November and December.

The ODI series holds immense importance as it closely precedes the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup on October 5. New Zealand’s cricketing unit has a unique opportunity to acclimate themselves to the sub-continental playing conditions. On the other side of the pitch, Bangladesh, under the leadership of Shakib Al Hasan, aims to test its best lineup against a formidable New Zealand side that was the runner-up in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

New Zealand’s absence from playing Test and ODI matches in Bangladesh over the past decade has created heightened anticipation for this tour. Their previous ODI series against Bangladesh in 2013 ended in a 0-3 whitewash in favor of the hosts. The tour also featured two Test matches, both ending in draws.

Throughout their cricketing history on Bangladeshi soil, New Zealand has played a total of six Test matches, securing victory in three and experiencing three draws. In the realm of ODIs, the Kiwis have competed in 16 games, with seven wins and nine defeats. Their T20I series in Bangladesh in 2021 resulted in a 3-2 series win for the hosts.