New Zealand will begin their tour of Bangladesh with the first ODI to played at Mirpur. This is the third time that the New Zealand side is touring Bangladesh for an ODI series, and while they have won both their previous ones, this is the first five-match series. 
In the previous series that was played between New Zealand and Bangladesh, the underdogs, Bangladesh were able to win one game from the Kiwis to cause a minor flutter. New Zealand had gone on to win the other two to ensure that the win was theirs.
However, this could well be a different series in many ways. For one, New Zealand will know that given that it is a five-match series, there is a pressing need to not give the opposition any second chances.
New Zealand will see the return of Daniel Vettori as the captain of the side after he had taken a break from cricket in the previous couple of series – in Sri Lanka and in the USA. Brendon McCullum is also back into the playing team, while Ross Taylor will look to cement his position as the side’s best batsman.
The advantage that some of the players including Ross Taylor will have is the fact that they did play in the recent series in Sri Lanka. This would have allowed them to get used to the pace and the bounce on the track and hence make it easier for them to adjust to the same in Bangladesh. This is also a way in which the New Zealand side will look to prepare themselves for the World Cup of the next year, that will be played in the sub-continent from February.
For Bangladesh, this will be a good opportunity to continue with their building phase. It must be said that Bangladesh has been a much improved side, as their win against England in ODIs showed. However, for every step forward that Bangladesh takes, they have taken one back too as was seen in the series against Ireland and Netherlands – they drew the ODIs against Ireland 1-1 and lost the one-off to Netherlands.
It will be an important series for them and they will rely on Shakib al Hasana. Hasan wa relieved of his captaincy and will be a potent force as an all-rounder.