New Zealand will be a different team without their two most experienced batsmen which gives Bangladesh the opportunity to do something no previous side from there has done before.
Tamin Iqbal Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Captain Kane Williamson and veteran Ross Taylor will both miss today's opening game in Dunedin with the skipper out of the series with an elbow injury and Taylor missing the first game at least with a hamstring injury.
Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo says the absence of the pair means the Black Caps are a less intimidating side.
"It is a bit of a boost for us, not having them in the first game in particular. But we know that new players are always keen to establish themselves, so they will be highly motivated to do well," he said.
"A lot of these young bowlers will have seen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor play on television before and have probably been a little bit in awe of them and some of them will be disappointed that they're not there because they want to play against the best.
"But some of them are still cutting their teeth and trying to find their way so probably not a bad thing that they miss the first game."
Domingo says it is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to beat New Zealand for the first time in New Zealand, but admits it's not something they've talked a lot about.
"I've been here previously with South Africa and I know it's a tough place to tour but I know it's a great opportunity for some of these younger players as there's a World Cup coming up and New Zealand is one of the top sides in the world and if we're going to be serious contenders for an event like that in India then we have to put in big performances in series like these.
"We have the opportunity to do something that no Bangladeshi side has done before so we're excited by it."
Soumya Sarkar Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The tourists are hoping a Black Caps legend can give them a leg up during the tour.
Daniel Vettori is part of the Bangladesh coaching team, and Domingo says it's great to have him on board despite not having seen him for a few months because of Covid.
"It's great to have his knowledge and experience here, not just on the venues but with some of the players he's played with, connecting with some of our bowlers and also some of our batters because we know what an important batter Dan was for New Zealand.
"He's given us a fresh energy and a fresh dimension that maybe we haven't had in the past."
Bangladesh are coming off a 3-nil ODI series win over the West Indies in January, while New Zealand's last ODI was just over a year ago in Australia.
"I think the 50-over format is our strongest format at the moment, if you look at the team's performance at the World Cup and the averages of players, I think this is our strongest format.
"I do think we've got some good young fast bowlers coming through that maybe New Zealand haven't seen before, guys like Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed bowling nicely so we're excited by what they're producing at the moment."
The game in Dunedin starts at 11am on Saturday followed by Christchurch on Tuesday and Wellington on Friday. The three T20 internationals are played at Hamilton, Napier and Auckland.
The T20's are a part of a double header series which includes the White Ferns against Australia.
