New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match on Monday in Rawalpindi. The Black Caps are eyeing a semi-final spot, and a victory today would confirm their qualification while simultaneously eliminating both Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan from the tournament.
With a win, New Zealand would join India in securing a place in the knockout rounds. The Kiwis started their campaign strong with a victory over Pakistan, while Bangladesh is fighting for survival after losing their opening match against India.
Team Line-ups and Changes
New Zealand made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in pacer Kyle Jamieson and batter Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra, who suffered a forehead injury in a recent tri-series, has recovered and is ready to contribute with both bat and ball. The Black Caps are expected to take advantage of the batting-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi.
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, also made two key changes. Experienced batsman Mahmudullah and fast bowler Nahid Rana replaced Soumya Sarkar and Tanzim Sakib as the Tigers seek a much-needed victory to stay in the tournament.
Match Context & Semi-Final Race
The stakes are high for both teams. If New Zealand wins, they will advance to the semi-finals alongside India, effectively ending the campaign for both Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, if Bangladesh manages an upset victory, they will keep their hopes alive while making the qualification race more interesting.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, and New Zealand is in a strong position to progress if they maintain their form.
Teams for the Match
Bangladesh:
- Tanzid Hasan
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
- Mahmudullah
- Jaker Ali
- Rishad Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Nahid Rana
- Mustafizur Rahman
New Zealand:
- Will Young
- Devon Conway
- Kane Williamson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Tom Latham (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (capt)
- Matt Henry
- Kyle Jamieson
- Will O’Rourke
Match Officials
- On-Field Umpires: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)
- TV Umpire: Rod Tucker (Australia)
- Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
With New Zealand bowling first and conditions favoring the batters, Bangladesh will need a strong total on the board to challenge the in-form Black Caps. Can they turn the tide and keep their tournament hopes alive, or will New Zealand seal their semi-final spot today?
