Bangladesh return to T20I cricket today after around a five-month gap, with skipper Litton Das keen to strike a balance between rediscovering rhythm and laying the groundwork for sterner tests ahead.

“There are no warm-up balls -- he's always on the money from ball one.” That was how New Zealand’s standout batter on the day, Nick Kelly, summed up Nahid Rana’s performance in Mirpur yesterday.

There was a striking similarity between the starts of New Zealand and Bangladesh in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Mirpur on Friday, but the contrasting approaches that followed ultimately defined the outcome.

Bangladesh take on New Zealand in the opening match of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today, looking to maintain their recent strong form in the format and close the gap with eighth-ranked England in the ICC ODI rankings.

Soumya Sarker and Afif Hossain were roped in as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand where the Tigers will play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting on December 17.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named the replacements for pacer Taskin Ahmed in both the ODI and Test side for the the upcoming series against New Zealand. Taskin, who had been in impressive form in the ongoing BPL, has been ruled out of the series due to a lateral ligament injury.