NEW DELHI: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner on Sunday assured that his team will not underestimate Bangladesh in their upcoming ICC Champions Trophy fixture in Rawalpindi on Monday. Aware of Bangladesh’s ability to spring surprises against top sides, Santner remains hopeful that his team won’t fall victim to an upset.
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The Blackcaps have been in exceptional form since arriving in Pakistan, building momentum with an ODI tri-nation title victory and a commanding 60-run win over defending champions Pakistan. A win against Bangladesh would put them one step closer to securing a semi-final berth.
Despite Bangladesh’s struggles in ODI cricket — they have lost their last five matches — Santner believes they still possess a balanced squad. The absence of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan weakens their lineup, but he pointed out that players like Rishad Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, and Mahmudullah can still be impactful with both bat and ball.
"Yeah, obviously, we've seen how good Shakib has been for a long time. He's proven that he can perform in all conditions. They’ve got Rishad coming in, who's a very good leg-spinner. Mehidy has done well, and Mahmudullah, if he plays, can offer some good overs. Their balance is good at the moment," Santner said in the pre-match presser.
Santner also acknowledged Bangladesh’s batting threat, highlighting Towhid Hridoy’s impressive form and Jaker Ali’s potential.
"They have guys who can attack with the bat. Hridoy played a great innings last game, and Jaker Ali has already made an impact. So yeah, it’s a team we’re not taking lightly for sure. In these big events, any team can cause an upset. Hopefully, it's not us," he added.
With Rawalpindi proving to be a high-scoring venue — Australia recently chased down a record 352-run total — Santner emphasised the importance of building partnerships and maintaining discipline with the ball.
"We have a few plans for Bangladesh, but we’ll have to see how the wicket plays. If it’s flat, we’ll stick to the strategies we used in Karachi — hitting that hard length consistently. They have some destructive players, so we need to be sharp. Traditionally, it's a high-scoring ground, so with the bat, it’s all about forging strong partnerships," Santner explained.
New Zealand will look to extend their dominant run and secure a spot in the semi-finals, while Bangladesh will aim to bounce back and keep their semis hopes alive.
