Most of the New Zealand Test squad, featuring plenty of young blood due to injuries sustained by senior players, will arrive in Dhaka today for their forthcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Skipper Brendon McCullum, Neil Wagner and Hamish Rutherford will be arriving on Wednesday due to their participation in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
The series will start at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from October 9-14 before both teams return to Dhaka to play the second and final Test match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from October 21-25.
The New Zealand side has been significantly weakened by the absence of experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, opening batsman Martin Guptill and fast bowler Tim Southee, who are all nursing injuries.
Highly-rated uncapped leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and batting all-rounder Corey Anderson have been named in the squad for the important tour of Bangladesh, where the Black Caps were embarrassed during their last ODI series in October 2010.
The touring party will begin their month-long campaign with a three-day match against the BCB XI at the MA Aziz Stadium from
October 4-6, which will also be crucial to the selection of the Tigers’ line-up.
The Test series will be followed by three One-Day Internationals in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board plans to host the only T20 International of the tour at the Sylhet Stadium, hoping that it will receive International Cricket Council approval ahead of the match. The ICC delegation that will have final approval of the stadium is due to arrive on October 13.
NZ Test Squad
Brendon McCullum (Captain), Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Hamish Rutherford, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Ish Sodhi, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson
-With New Age input
