"We know it's going to be very difficult, we've got to be realistic," the Englishman told reporters. "But we quite like being underdogs. We can surprise a few people being an underdog and I think New Zealand know they've still got to play some very good cricket to beat us." Rhodes said Bangladesh's task had been made tougher by the injury-enforced absences of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and paceman Taskin Ahmed.
He said the gruelling Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament had been a mixed blessing for his players as they prepare for a New Zealand tour that includes three one-day internationals and three Tests.