The New Zealand cricket team has arrived in Dhaka for a two-Test series against Bangladesh. Originally scheduled to travel to Sylhet on Wednesday morning, there has been a change in the travel plans. Both teams will now reach Sylhet at night after a day of rest, as confirmed by BCB media manager Rabid Imam.
In the year 2018, Bangladesh played its only Test match at the Sylhet International Stadium. After a five-year gap, the anticipation for the second Test at the Sylhet ground is building, with New Zealand as Bangladesh's opponent in this upcoming match.
The upcoming storm in Bangladesh cricket goes by the name “Kal Baisakhi”, and fans are eagerly waiting for the new talents to soar. The rallying cry of 'Tora Sob Joyodhoni kor !' echoes, questioning whether the newcomers can harmonize with the iconic lines of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
In what promises to be a riveting clash, the first Test of the two-match series is set to kick off on Tuesday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, marking the commencement of Bangladesh's Test cricket season and the initiation of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh, having finished at the bottom in the previous two cycles, faces the formidable challenge of turning the tide against a strong New Zealand side.
Shahadat Hossain Dipu, who faced the loss of his father at the tender age of 9, has now found a place in the Test team.
However, Bangladesh concluded the first day of the match with a sense of disappointment. The day held immense potential for Bangladesh, but the team fell short of capitalizing on it, losing several wickets. Despite a promising start with the notable contributions of Muminul Haque and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the team struggled to maintain momentum after their dismissals.
Bangladesh missed a golden opportunity to seize control of the Sylhet Test as the hosts found themselves in a challenging position at the end of the second day against New Zealand. Despite the visitors accumulating 266 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, Bangladesh let the match slip away due to dropped catches and a failure to utilize the Decision Review System (DRS)
The return of Mount Maunganui to Sylhet marks a significant historical moment in cricket. While victories against New Zealand in white-ball cricket have been numerous, the triumph at Mount Maunganui stands out as the sole success in the Test format. Despite the Bangladeshi team achieving a clean sweep of the Kiwis on their home turf, the success of Mount Maunganui, both at home and away, holds a special place in Bangladesh's cricket history. The upcoming Test match at the Sylhet International Stadium promises to be a continuation of Mount Maunganui's historic legacy.
Facing a formidable New Zealand team in the Test series, Bangladesh, weakened by the absence of key players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadat, took the field under the leadership of their new captain, Shant. The hero of the Kiwis' downfall was left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, as Bangladesh secured a memorable victory, defeating New Zealand by 150 runs with his exceptional bowling performance.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto took on the role of interim captain in three ODI matches, all of which ended in losses for the Bangladesh team. However, his Test captaincy debut in the Sylhet Test marked a distinguished beginning for Shanto in the elite cricket format.
