Shakib Al Hasan warns against making sluggish wickets for New Zealand series

Bangladesh picked up an emphatic 4-1 win over Australia. However, it was a very rare series where run-scoring was next to impossible. The net run-rate of the series was under 6:00 and scores of around 120 proved to be too much. In an era where 200+ totals and being gunned down easily, the Bangladesh-Australia series failed to touch the 150 run mark. In the final T20I, Australia were bowled out for 62 while chasing 123.

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Bangladesh’s next assignment will be against New Zealand where the team will play five T20Is. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has warned the curators against making slow and sluggish surfaces for the series. Shakib wants the pitches to be good cricketing wickets as it will allow the team to prepare for the World T20.

"Wherever T20s are played, they are usually played on good pitches. Maybe it would benefit us more (preparation-wise for ICCWT20) if we could play on a better wicket against New Zealand," Shakib was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

"It is up to the team management to decide on what type of wicket they want to play before going there. Whatever it is, we have to adapt. Since the game is in our country, there is no chance to make excuses," he said.

Bangladesh T20I squad for NZ series: Mahmudullah (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Naim, Nurul Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Nasum Ahmed.

 New Zealand Squad for Bangladesh Twenty20s: Tom Latham (capt), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry (ODI only), Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (T20 only), Blair Tickner, Will Young.