|| CF DESK ||

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead reckoned that Bangladesh as a team has improved in the World stage and believes they are quite a challenging team overseas.

Stead also praised the current Bangladesh team, stating that they advanced their game in the conditions outside the country.

He further acknowledged that Bangladesh's pace unit will be a huge threat on the fast and bouncy surface like in New Zealand.

“They are definitely an improve team in the overseas condition and they have a good pace bowling attack handy sepcially in wickets like us little bit of more grass and quicker side. The challenge they gonna bring and their batting line-up is also experienced and certainly a threat in such conditions,” said in the pre-match conference.

Stead also mentioned that the Blackcaps won't risk Kyle Jamieson if he is not 100% fit for the first ODI starting tomorrow.

"Kyle had the injury through the second test in Bangladesh in Dhaka. He's progressing really well. But in our opinion right now, it's just not quite worth the risk of putting him up in this first game.

"If it was a final or a World Cup game, he would be available to play. But in our opinion, it's just worth waiting that little bit longer," he added.