Massive boost for New Zealand as Kane Williamson confirms availability for World Cup clash against Bangladesh

In a big boost to New Zealand team, veteran batter Kane Williamson will be playing the ODI World Cup clash against Bangladesh on Friday, October 13. 

Kane Williamson, who has been deemed fit to play the next game, will once again take the reins of New Zealand's captaincy. Williamson had to sit out during the initial two World Cup games against defending champions England in Ahmedabad and Netherlands in Hyderabad due to an injury. In his absence, Tom Latham took over the captaincy charge.

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Adding to the positive news for the undefeated New Zealand team is the availability of their veteran fast bowler, Tim Southee, for the clash against Bangladesh.

Southee, similar to Williamson, was absent from the games against England and the Netherlands. The team's coach, Gary Stead, confirmed that both players had sufficiently healed post their respective surgeries - Williamson from an ACL tear and Southee from a thumb procedure.

The Kiwis are looking forward to maintaining their triumphant momentum at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, colloquially known as 'Chepauk.' They will be gearing up to counter the spinning prowess of the Bangladesh team, led by their captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Talking about New Zealand's performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup, they have been exceptional so far notching emphatic wins against England and Netherlands.  On the other side, Bangladesh, after a crushing defeat by the reigning champions England in Dharamsala, are determined to bounce back.

Notably Williamson captained New Zealand during the 2019 World Cup when his team reached the finals but narrowly missed the title, losing to England based on a superior boundary count after a dramatic super over couldn't decide the winner of the game. With an impressive tally of 6,554 runs from 161 ODIs, which includes a top score of 148, 13 hundreds, and 42 fifties, Williamson's cricketing prowess is evident. He first donned the ODI jersey for New Zealand against India in Dambulla in August 2010.

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