Bangladesh will take on New Zealand in the first T20I on April 17 at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram.

Bangladesh head into the series with confidence after securing an ODI series victory and will aim to carry that momentum into the T20I format. The team will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with key players such as Nahid Rana, Afif Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, and Tanvir Islam adding depth to the squad.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will be eager to bounce back after their recent setback and make a strong start to the T20I series.

They will be captained by Tom Latham, with support from players like Adithya Ashok, Dane Cleaver, Dean Foxcroft, Henry Nicholls, and Ben Sears, who will look to make an impact.

BAN vs NZ Match Details

Match	Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 1st T20I, New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2026
Date and Time (IST)	Monday, April 27, 1:30 PM (IST)
Venue	Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
Broadcast and Live-streaming	Fancode (App & Website)

Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium - Pitch Report

The pitch at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium is known to be a balanced surface, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers.

Teams can expect a fair contest between bat and ball. In 36 T20 matches played at this venue, 18 have been won by teams batting first, while 18 have been won by teams chasing, highlighting the even nature of the conditions. As a result, the match could turn out to be a closely fought contest, with no clear advantage to either side.

BAN vs NZ Head to Head T20I Record

Matches Played	20
Won by BAN	04
Won by NZ	15
No Results	01
First-ever Fixture	February 3, 2010 (NZ Won)
Most Recent Fixture	December 31, 2023 (NZ Won)

BAN vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs Bangladesh:

Litton Das (WK), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (C), Afif Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

New Zealand:

Tom Latham (C & WK), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Muhammad Abbas, Nathan Smith, Adithya Ashok, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, William O’Rourke

BAN vs NZ Probable Best Performers Probable Best Batter: Najmul Hossain Shanto

Najmul Hossain Shantocould be a key batter in this clash. With over 900 runs in T20 cricket, he brings both experience and stability to the lineup. He has also been in good form in the ODI format, which adds to his confidence heading into this game. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed will be crucial. If he gets going, his contribution could significantly influence the flow of the match and set the tone in the opening T20I.

Probable Best Bowler: Nahid Rana

Nahid Ranacould be the key bowler in this clash. He was in sublime form during the ODI leg, finishing as the leading wicket-taker and showcasing his ability to consistently trouble batters. Although he has featured in just one T20I so far, his current form and confidence make him a significant threat. If he manages to carry that momentum into this format, his spell could play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the opening T20I.

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match