Kiwis say Bangladesh 'formidable' at home

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said on Sunday that Bangladesh remained a "formidable" team at home despite an exodus of players to a rebel Indian Twenty20 league.

Vettori, who is leading the Black Caps on a tour to Bangladesh that includes two Tests and three one-day matches, said the hosts were not weakened after the recent defection of seven international players to the Indian Cricket League (ICL)."I think from my understanding the only player missing from the team is Aftab Ahmed," Vettori told reporters.

"The rest of the team remains pretty much what we faced in New Zealand earlier in the year. So we are facing a similar side."

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Aaron Redmond, Iain O'Brien, Scott Styris, Mark Gillespie.

DHAKA, Sunday ,AFP