Coach Steven Rhodes recognises that Bangladesh have galvanised since narrowly avoiding the lone gunman that killed over 50 people in Christchurch earlier this year.

Australian Brenton Tarrant has been accused of killing 51 people during an attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city on 15 March.

Bangladesh were in the country for a Test tour at the time – and en route to one of the mosques targeted by Tarrant. They ultimately managed to avoid the attack, though.

‘I have got so much respect for the players; the way that they have handled themselves after that event; the way that they have got themselves through it all. They are just celebrating Eid now, the end of Ramadan,’ said Rhodes.

‘That’s been tough for many of the boys. It helps, in many ways. They have got some sort of brotherhood there now. They have shared with other Muslims who sadly perished that day. But the experience they went through, they went through together on that coach, and I think it somehow gelled them and I think that they have actually got solace from each other.

‘They have tried to help each other through it, and you know, I’ve got a lot of respect and admiration for the way they have pulled through. Because there’s a lot of smiley faces at the moment, and going back to that day in Christchurch, I was thinking, how do we get a team back together after that?’

Bangladesh and New Zealand will contest a World Cup fixture at The Oval in London on Wednesday. Bangladesh beat South Africa at the same venue last week.

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