Mushfiq optimistic to give Kiwis good runs for their money
Mushfiqur Rahim in action during a BPL match. -BCB
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh leading wicket keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said on Monday that he believes that they have a good chance to beat New Zealand at their own den in the upcoming three-match ODI series.
Bangladesh will tour New Zealand to play a full-fledged series comprising with three ODI’s along with three Test, scheduled to start with 50-over format from February 13. Tigers are yet to win against New Zealand at their own back yard in any format but the recent success in the ODIs suggest Tigers will travel with a high confidence this time round to give Kiwis a good run for their money.
“Of course we have a good chance against New Zealand in the ODI’s,’’ Mushfiqur Rahim told reporters at Mirpur on Monday. “The last occasion when we toured New Zealand we were almost near to win-like situation in two one-day matches what we should have won,’’ he said.
“Nelson and Christchurch were high scoring matches. At that time when I and Mosaddek were at the crease, if we could have carried out the innings a bit more then it would be a different ball game,’’ he added. Mushfiqur believed that the tour of New Zealand will be a good platform for them to prepare for World Cup and urged that they should grab the opportunity with both hands.
“I think, it will be good preparation for us ahead of the ICC World Cup because it might be high scoring matches that will obviously help us in the World Cup. It will also be challenging for us. If we could overcome, it will definitely be a big plus point for us,’’ said Mushfiqur.
If Tigers want to achieve success in New Zealand than they need to make sure their pace bowlers perform to the best of their ability considering there will be something for them in those wickets. Pace bowler Rubel Hossain is expected to be a key part in the pace department of Tigers that will take on the Kiwis in the three-match ODI’s.
The right–arm pace bowler believes that they have enough experience to exploit those conditions. “We have travelled a lot in New Zealand and we are well aware how the wicket behaves in those conditions,’’ said Rubel.
“There will be some batting friendly wickets and we must make sure we have perfect preparation by seriously doing our practice session over there,’’ he said. “Those conditions and our conditions are not the same so we must make sure we adapt to those conditions quickly,’’ he added.
On the other side, Rubel said that they will be in good stead considering every cricketers are playing games in the recent past by participating in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. “Our plus point is that every cricketer is playing games and it will definitely help,’’ said Rubel.
“Because playing matches help to keep you in a good rhythm and certainly along the way it also helps you to focus on your games without any distraction,’’ he added.
![Nahid Rana [R], Litton Das [M], Rishad Hossain, Cricfrenzy](https://cricfrenzy.com/public/storage/images/2-2025/b63Kb1P37XIa8965QN348as6.jpg)
