New Zealand Bats First in Opening ODI vs Bangladesh

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first against Bangladesh in the opening match of a three-game One-Day International series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, April 17, 2026. The contest, starting at 10:30 a.m. IST, marks the beginning of New Zealand's white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which includes three ODIs followed by three T20Is through early May.

Bangladesh, captained by allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, enters the series with strong momentum from recent home victories over West Indies and Pakistan in the 50-over format. The hosts named a balanced lineup featuring openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, followed by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das as wicketkeeper, Towhid Hridoy, Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, and Shoriful Islam. Their squad combines experienced campaigners like Mustafizur, who has taken 158 ODI wickets, with emerging talents, aiming to leverage the slow, spin-friendly pitch that often favors chasing sides.

New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, who also keeps wicket, fields a largely second-string side due to several first-choice players being committed to the Indian Premier League and Pakistan...