Published: 10:40 AM, 16 April 2026
New Zealand ready to battle heat and hosts, says Walter
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter hasacknowledged that his side will face a stern test in coping with the heat and conditions in Bangladesh during the upcoming series, especially after match timings were changed in line with the Bangladesh government's energyconservation measures.
"Obviously it is different, but we expected that coming here," Walter told reporters.
"A couple of days before the first game is probably not enough to fully get used to it (heat). There's not a hell of a lot you can do in that time. At the end of the day, it is what it is."
Despite the challenge, Walter insisted that his team must adapt quickly if they are to achieve their goal of winning the series.
"As a professional team, we have to overcome these challenges. We just need to be ready to deal with the heat and it's one of the factors we must handle," he said.
Walter also pointed out that the absence of dew due to the day time game could influence how matches unfold, potentially making it a more balanced contest between bat and ball while also allowing pitches to slow down under prolonged exposure to heat.
"You don't have the dew factor to consider, which could make it a fairer contest. The pitch might slow up as the day goes on in these conditions," he added.
Beyond the weather, Walter identified Bangladesh national cricket team as a formidable opponent, highlighting their well-rounded bowling attack as a key concern for the visitors.
"I think Bangladesh have some wonderful seam bowlers and they've covered all bases. We saw in the series against the West Indies how conditions can vary between spin and seam, and they've been excellent," he said.
Walter emphasized that New Zealand's approach will depend on reading the conditions during play.
"Whatever the conditions tell us, we'll respond accordingly. Hopefully, that will be the difference between winning and losing," he added.
Earliar, the first batch of New Zealand players arrived in Dhaka on April 13 ahead of their upcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh.
The remaining members of the squad landed later in the night at the same day.
New Zealand will play three ODIs and an equal number of T20 Internationals during their three-week tour in Bangladesh.
Due franchise commitments, at least 10 first choice New Zealand players opted out of the Bangladesh tour but Captain Tom Latham insisted the tour presents "opportunities for younger players or those with less experience than usual".
The ODI series is scheduled for April 17, 20 and 23, while the T20I matches will be held on April 27 and 29, and May 2.
The ODIs will commence at 11:00am while the T20Is will start at 2:00pm.
The matches will be split across two venues. The first two ODIs and the final T20I will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital's Mirpur and the third ODI, along with the first two T20Is, will be held at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.
