Bangladesh will be hoping to seal their first ever victory against New Zealand in their own backyard when they take on Kane Williamson's side in the first of three ODIs at McLean Park in Napier today.
The match will begin at 7:00 am in Bangladesh time.
However, it remains to be seen how Bangladesh fare in the ODIs as the Tigers will be without their premier all-rounder -- Shakib Al Hasan -- after he sustained a left little finger injury that during the final of the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League.
Bangladesh have never won in New Zealand against the hosts. The last time Bangladesh toured the country in 2016-2017, the Tigers were at the receiving end of whitewashes in all three formats as they were thrashed 3-0 in ODIs, 3-0 in T20Is and 2-0 in Tests.
Bangladesh, however, last met New Zealand during the group stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 at a neutral venue in Cardiff and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's men brought up one of their most memorable wins. Two stalwarts, Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib, had strung together a 224-run fifth-wicket partnership -- Bangladesh's highest ever partnership -- to stage a heroic come back as the Tigers won that contest by five wickets and 16 balls to spare.
New Zealand, coming off a 4-1 ODI home series thrashing against the India, will certainly look to bounce back and rediscover their winning touch in the format.
