Cricket: Whangarei welcomes touring Bangladeshis

The Bangladesh squad sings a Bangladeshi song at the Mihi Whakatau (Mayoral Welcome) at Cobham Oval. Photo/Michael Cunningham

The Bangladesh cricket team have been formally welcomed to Whangarei in a ceremony at Cobham Oval.

The Mihi Whakatau, or mayoral welcome, was well attended as the city officially greeted the side to Northland.

Bangladesh are in Whangarei to play a warm-up 50-over match tomorrow against a New Zealand XI, led by Canterbury's Cole McConchie.

Bangladeshi batsman Tamim Iqbal said the welcome was well received by the team.

"It was great (the welcoming). We saw a bit of New Zealand culture which was very nice to see."

"We come from a different culture and they do things a bit different so it's a learning thing as well."

"We respect that and we learnt how they do things here."

Iqbal, along with Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mashrafe Mortaza, are the leaders in a young side coming off a good test series against England.

On their home patch, Bangladesh pulled off a historic win thanks to a 12-wicket haul from 19-year-old Mehedi Hasan.

Iqbal, a flamboyant opening batsman, said the New Zealand tour will be a great test for Bangladesh.

TOUCHED: Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal said it was great experiencing a slice of New Zealand culture at Cobham Oval. Photo/Michael Cunningham

"I think it will be a really good series and especially since we've been playing quite a bit of cricket back at home - it will be challenging in New Zealand wickets," he said.

"They'll be different pitches to bat and bowl on which will be tough. But if we can play to our potential and bat, bowl and field well it will be an interesting series to watch."

Veteran quick bowler Mortaza said ahead of the tour that, while they've had success in their own backyard, the away series will be a good test.

"In the last couple of years, we played mostly at home and won many of those matches too," he said.

"We have been successful, now it's a different challenge to play outside home. It's a challenge even for established teams to do well in New Zealand."

"So from that aspect, it is a bigger challenge for us."

"The New Zealand weather is different from other areas, but we can take the momentum. We can take good memories, which will give us confidence."

The match between Bangladesh and the NZ XI starts at 11am tomorrow at Cobham Oval. Entry to the ground is free, with gates opening at 10:30am.

There will also be a bouncy castle and face painters for the younger fans.

NZ XI: Ryan Duffy, Ben Smith, Bharat Popli, Ken McClure, Cole McConchie (c), Ben Horne (c), Shawn Hicks, Henry Shipley, Matt McEwen, Brett Hampton, Ajaz Patel, Iain McPeake (12th man).

Bangladesh squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Subashis Roy, Tanveer Haider.