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04-Oct-2010 12:18:00 GMT
Bangladesh v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Mirpur

New Zealand Focus on World Cup in Bangladesh Opener

Dhaka: New Zealand begin preparations for the World Cup when they take on hosts Bangladesh in a five-match one-day series starting on Tuesday.

Visiting skipper Daniel Vettori said ahead of the series that playing in Bangladesh would stand his team in good stead ahead of next year's World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

New Zealand, the Champions Trophy runners-up, who figured in a triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka in August, will complete the cycle when they tour India for Test and one-day series in November.

"I think we are pretty lucky as a New Zealand team to experience Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India before the World Cup," said Vettori.

"We are going to get the best possible warm-up and any game time in the sub-continent is going to make a huge difference to our chances in the World Cup. So, the guys are excited about it.

"I know the preparations are going pretty well. The fact that we have been to Sri Lanka and play some one-dayers in India gives us the best preparation leading into such an important tournament."

New Zealand, who won 16 of their 17 one-dayers against Bangladesh, have been bolstered by the return of Vettori, wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum and hard-hitting batsman Jesse Ryder.

The trio were missed in Sri Lanka, where they failed to make it to the final of the tri-series also involving India.

Bangladesh suffered a blow when aggressive opener Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of the series following wrist surgery last month.

Left-handed opener Shahriar Nafees returned to the one-day squad after two years to replace Tamim. He played his last one-dayer in 2008, against India.

Bangladesh have won just two of their 20 one-dayers this year.

Both sides are hoping for clear weather after rain washed out both New Zealand's practice matches.

Team from

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Hamish Bennett, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Jesse Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Shanan Stewart, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Bradley-John Watling, Kane Williamson.

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Shahriar Nafees, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Raqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Jahirul Islam, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Sohrawordhi.


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