The second warm-up match between New Zealand and the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, scheduled to be held at the BKSP on Saturday, was called off as persistent rain over the last few days has made the ground condition unplayable.
The decision meant New Zealand will go into the five-match one-day series without any match practice as their first warm-up match that was supposed to be held at the same ground on Friday had also been abandoned for the same reason.
The tourists were understandably frustrated with the situation, though their bowling coach Shane Jurgensen told reporters that they have accepted the reality.
Jurgensen and head coach Mark Greatbatch visited BKSP on Saturday along with the match officials before they all agreed to call off the match without waiting for the weather to improve.
‘I am a bit disappointed,’ said Jurgensen. ‘[But] we can’t help the weather, we had a bit of idea that this part of the world remains wet at this point of time and this happens when we play outside.’
The BCB, however, somewhat compensated allowing the tourists to practise at the centre wicket of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, the single venue to be used in the five-match series.
This was something New Zealand had never experienced in the past, admitted Jurgensen adding that they were more than happy to have got the chance to practise at the centre strip.
‘Today it has been a real good practice at the middle and it is where we are going to play so we are happy what we have done,’ he said. ‘We need to get accustomed to the weather as in New Zealand it is not so hot at this time in season, so we have to get out in the sun and adjust with the heat and sweat.’
Jurgensen played down the idea that lack of warm-up matches could be deterrent for them in the series
saying they had already enough match practice before they embarked on Bangladesh tour.
‘We are ready as we had a lot of cricket in the last six months. We had a heavy season with the Twenty20 and a heavy summer in New Zealand. I am happy about the bowlers as they have done well in Sri Lanka, so we are raring to go,’ he said.
‘We would have liked to have a practice match but that could not be arranged but I am happy with the attitude the bowlers have shown’ he added.
