Rain, Mirpur surface leaves more questions than answers for Bangladesh as 1st ODI called off

Rain had the final word on the 1st ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Mirpur's Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as the match was called off after 33.4 overs with the visitors at 136/5.

In a series where World Cup spots were on the line, Bangladesh and New Zealand both played lineups with loads of players from the regular XI missing.

For the hosts, the Tigers, the opening combo and the no.7 spot are the two main areas of concern with the experienced shadows of Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad looming large.

Another big point of contention has been the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman and this series would be tailormade for him to get some wickets and his confidence back as it would be in his favourite ground with sticky pitches, Mirpur's Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. 

The decision to bowl first on a day with heavy cloud cover and a series where rain has been forecast throughout was perhaps the right call by stand-in captain Litton Das.

But as expected, the heavens opened and it rained and it poured for an hour after before the fifth over was concluded, the match was curtailed to 42 overs a side - an homage to the recently concluded Asia Cup and the persistent rain in Colombo.

When play resumed, Mustafiz started to get grip on his cutters and it wasn't long before he made the first breakthrough, dismissing opener Finn Allen for nine.

The catch taken by Nurul Hasan was the real highlight here as he timed his jump to his right to perfection; it's important to note that Nurul didn't have a first slip beside him and it's perhaps best that he didn't, as he's able to cover that ground and overall giving the selectors a reminder of his keeping abilities, which many consider to be the best in the country. 

Not just that, but he's been playing at no.7 in recent times and his ODI numbers with the bat are not bad either - an average of over 82 with a strikerate over 94.

Nurul can certainly make a case for himself to be part of the squad in India here.

The Mustafiz-Nurul duo would be in action for the the second wicket as well, as Chad Bowes was dismissed for one and New Zealand were in a difficult spot at 16-2.

After a good 97-run partnership for the third wicket between Will Young (58) and Henry Nicholls (44), Mustafiz came back in the attack to have Nicholls trapped in front.

While Bangladesh have no dearth of off-spinners (especially the left-arm variant), competition for places here will be the highest.

Both Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan have shown their credentials with the ball in keeping things tight, but have also done bits with the bat in the Asia Cup to be worth a shout.

One feels that Nasum is slightly ahead currently but Mahedi could also get the nod with a good series and depending on how the others around him do.

He took two wickets to have New Zealand down at 136/5 in the 34th over before a further rain interruption.

Another contender to fight for his place as the third spinning option could be Mahmudullah, who bowled in the first ODI.

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha perhaps wants a fast-bowling all-rounder in his squad and that could pave the way for the next best option they have in Soumya Sarkar.

Soumya isn't really fast but he becomes and option whenever the Sri Lankan is the head coach of Bangladesh.

Given the conditions in India should favour the batters more than they do in Mirpur, his chances look bleak but one never knows with Hathuru at the helm.

But in the end, one has to question the sort of pitch that the curator Gamini de Silva has prepared at Mirpur, ahead of the World Cup.

It will be a far cry from the sticky surface at Mirpur and that doesn't bode well for the batters, or the bowlers, barring Mustafiz.