In the first ODI, Bangladesh will confront New Zealand at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, on 17th April at 10:30 AM IST.
Get the best BAN vs NZ Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 1st ODI match of the New Zealand Tour of Bangladesh 2026. Expert analysis and more.
BAN vs NZ Match Preview:
The New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2026 kicks off with an exciting first ODI at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, April 17, 2026. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM IST. Bangladesh, riding high on a recent 2-1 ODI series victory against Pakistan, enters this contest with a settled squad and the confidence of playing in familiar home conditions. In contrast, a youthful New Zealand side, led by Tom Latham, faces the challenge of adapting to the slow, spin-friendly surface in Mirpur without several senior stars who are currently committed to T20 leagues.
Meanwhile, historical data indicates a dominant head-to-head record for New Zealand, who have won 34 of their 46 encounters against Bangladesh. However, the dynamics shift significantly in Dhaka, where the pitch traditionally favors the home side’s bowling arsenal. The Shere Bangla National Stadium surface is known for its sluggish nature, often becoming difficult to bat on as the match progresses. Consequently, pacers who vary their speeds and spinners who maintain disciplined lines will likely dominate proceedings, making it a challenging outing for the touring batters.
Bangladesh enters this series as the favorites, banking on a strong core that performed admirably against Pakistan. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz leads a balanced lineup that features the return of key pacers like Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana from their league duties. Furthermore, Tanzid Hasan, who enters this series in red-hot form after a century in his last outing, will be the player to watch at the top of the order. The hosts aim to capitalize on their recent momentum to assert early dominance in this three-match series.
However, New Zealand arrives with a “revamped” and inexperienced squad, aiming to blood young talent in subcontinental conditions. Despite the inexperience, players like Muhammad Abbas and Dean Foxcroft bring fresh energy, while the experience of Henry Nicholls and skipper Tom Latham will be crucial in steering the team through the tricky middle overs. Furthermore, the Black Caps are banking on their bowling depth, specifically the variety offered by bowlers like Blair Tickner and Ben Sears, to challenge the Bangladeshi top order.
Therefore, this opening clash promises a strategic battle between Bangladesh’s seasoned campaigners and a hungry, young New Zealand unit. While the visitors possess the historical pedigree, the hosts’ familiarity with the home conditions and current form positions them as the team to beat in this series opener.
Also Read: I fear for the players: Lalit Modi shuts door on India vs Pakistan bilateral series
BAN vs NZ Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
Bangladesh |
11 |
|
New Zealand |
34 |
BAN vs NZ Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
31°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Partly Cloudy |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Balanced |
|
Best Suited To |
Pace and spin |
|
Average 1st innings score |
230 |
Record of chasing teams:
BAN vs NZ Playing 11s (Predicted):
Bangladesh Playing 11:
1) Saif Hassan
2) Tanzid Hasan
3) Najmul Hossain Shanto
4) Towhid Hridoy
5) Litton Das (wk)
6) Afif Hossain
7) Mehidy Hasan Miraz ©
8) Rishad Hossain
9) Taskin Ahmed
10) Nahid Rana
11) Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand Playing 11:
1) Henry Nicholls
2) Will Young
3) Nick Kelly
4) Dean Foxcroft
5) Tom Latham (c/wk)
6) Muhammad Abbas
7) Josh Clarkson
8) Nathan Smith
9) Blair Tickner
10) Will O’Rourke
11) Jayden Lennox
Hot Picks for BAN vs NZ Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Tom Latham – New Zealand’s dependable left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 4,464 runs in 163 ODIs, anchoring innings consistently without contributing with the ball. |
|
Mehidy Hasan Miraz – Bangladesh’s right-handed batting all-rounder has accumulated 1,791 runs in 116 ODIs, also claiming 126 wickets with his effective off-spin bowling. |
Top Picks:
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Najmul Hossain Shanto – Bangladesh’s left-handed top-order batsman has recorded 1,759 runs in 61 ODIs, contributing occasionally with 2 wickets as a part-time option. |
|
Will Young – Technically sound right-handed top-order batsman for New Zealand has amassed 1,823 runs in 55 ODIs, providing stability through composed batting performances. |
Budget Picks:
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Afif Hossain – Versatile left-handed batting all-rounder for Bangladesh has scored 686 runs in 37 ODIs, also picking up 4 wickets with part-time spin contributions. |
|
Dean Foxcroft – Emerging right-handed batsman for New Zealand has featured in 1 ODI, yet to score runs while beginning his international journey. |
BAN vs NZ New Zealand Tour of Bangladesh 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Mehidy Hasan Miraz & Tom Latham |
|
Vice-Captain |
Will Young & Najmul Hossain Shanto |
BAN vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Tom Latham, Litton Das
- Batters – Najmul Hossain Shanto, Will Young (vc), Henry Nicholls
- All-rounders – Nathan Smith, Mehidy Hasan Miraz ©
- Bowlers – Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Will O’Rourke

BAN vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Tom Latham ©
- Batters – Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Will Young
- All-rounders – Nathan Smith, Dean Foxcroft, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Bowlers – Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Will O’Rourke

BAN vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1st ODI New Zealand Tour of Bangladesh 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
A Ashok |
6.0 credits |
NA |
|
T lslam |
6.5 credits |
NA |
BAN vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1st ODI New Zealand Tour of Bangladesh 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Tom Latham |
|
Punt Picks |
Dean Foxcroft and Afif Hossain |
|
Dream11 Combination |
2-3-2-4 |
BAN vs NZ Match Winner Prediction:
Considering the head-to-head records, New Zealand is expected to win this match.