Amid all the rumours surrounding the announcement of the World Cup squad, the focus on Bangladesh's performance in their third and series-deciding encounter against New Zealand took a back seat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu explained Tamim Iqbal’s exclusion from the World Cup squad as a fitness issue involving the southpaw’s injury concerns.

New Zealand opener Will Young scored a fifty as the Blackcaps won the third and final ODI against Bangladesh by seven wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up two wickets in two balls in the 10th over of the innings to dismiss New Zealand opener Finn Allen and top-order batter Dean Foxcroft as Tigers try to defend 171 in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a fifty but the Tigers got bundled out for 171 in their third and final ODI against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla national Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

A lot of confusion persisted for days but Bangladesh selectors are finally set to announce the World Cup squad today when the Tigers take on New Zealand in the third and final ODI in Mirpur.

Some of that expectation had been curbed by the performances in the recent Asia Cup. Following the multi-nation event, coach Chandika Hathurusingha had said in an interview that those who are dreaming of winning the World Cup should wake up from their sleep.

Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to lead the Tigers in their third and final ODI of the three-matches series against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday after stand-in skipper Liton Das in absence of regular captain Shakib Al Hasan asked to be rested, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in a press release on Sunday. 

Bangladesh suffered an 86-run thumping against New Zealand in the second of the ongoing three-match series yesterday -- the Tigers' first ODI loss at home against the Kiwis since October, 2008. Even preliminary scrutiny of the game would reveal that it was yet another batting failure by the Tigers as they were bundled out for 168 in 41.1 overs while chasing a 255-run target.

With the World Cup just around the corner, the three-match ODI series against New Zealand was expected to be an ideal platform for the vulnerable Bangladesh top-order to reassess its focus and gain confidence.

New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi lauded Bangladesh skipper Liton Das for calling him back after Tigers pacer Mankaded him in the first innings of the second ODI of the three-match series between the two sides at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi picked up his maiden ODI five-wicket haul to help crush Bangladesh by 87 runs in the second of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah Riyad's 76-ball 49-run knock saw him just one run away from reaching 5,000 ODI runs which would've made him only the fourth Bangladesh batter to achieve the feat but the 37-year-old, who held the key in Bangladesh chasing down New Zealand's 254, got dismissed in the 36th over to leave the Tigers at 149 for seven.

New Zealand Ish Sodhi picked up his maiden five-wicket haul to reduce Bangladesh to 136 for six following the completion of the 30th over as the Tigers are in pursuit of the Blackcaps' 254-run target in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh have lost half of their batters before reaching three figures in their chase of 255 against New Zealand in the second and penultimate ODI in Mirpur today.

New Zealand posted their highest total at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday when they were bundled out for 254 after opting to bat first against Bangladesh in the second ODI of the three-match series between the two teams. 

Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud castled New Zealand batter Tom Blundell to leave the visitors six down for 167 after 34 overs in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

New Zealand batter Tom Blundell hit a fifty while putting together a 95-run stand with Henry Nicholls to dig out the Blackcaps from a precarious position that saw them lose three wickets for 36 runs in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh pacer Khaled Ahmed has marked his ODI debut with his maiden wicket when he dismissed New Zealand batter Chad Bowes in the eighth over of the innings in the second ODI of the three-match series between the two teams at the She-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman struck twice in the Powerplay to leave New Zealand two down for 32 runs after seven overs in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.