Bangladeshi skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza believes that the real challenge for his team will be beginning in New Zealand in December.

This international bilateral series will be the first one for the team after Mashrafe assumed captaincy.

Bangladesh  will be visiting New Zealand in December for a bilateral series, following which in February, it will be visiting India for a test series.

It will then visit Sri Lanka for a full tour and then visit Ireland in May for a trilateral series. In June, the team will be in England for the Champion’s Trophy.

After a winning streak of six, Bangladesh lost to England 2-1 in a home series for the first time after Mashrafe became captain.

Mashrafe, unabated by the loss, says he’s excited to see how the team performs in conditions other than the home ground.

“We have been nearly 90 percent successful in the country,” the skipper said, adding, “A new kind of challenge now awaits us in international grounds.”

“It will be good for the team if we start afresh from the matches  in New Zealand,” Mashrafe said.

“It is always painful to be on the losing side, but that is just part of the game,” he added.