"We might have lost badly in both Tests in Dhaka and Chittagong against New Zealand but I believe we are more competitive than what have done in the last couple of weeks. We have failed to put up a good show due to the lack of combined performances," said the 34-year-old all-rounder, one of the three cricketers drafted for the first one-dayer against the Kiwis.

The first of the three-match one-day series will be held at the MA Aziz Stadium tomorrow.

"It's true that there were some excellent individual performances but those didn't bring any benefit for the team as a whole. It is important for a team like us gel a unit instead of putting on one good performance with either bat or ball," remarked Mahmud, who is regarded as a real team man and responsible for bringing discipline taking over from Khaled Mashud after a disastrous 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Mahmud has been a regular member of the Bangladesh one-day side since being left out of the Test fold following the home series against England last winter.

After being hammered by innings defeats in both Tests, Dav Whatmore's charges will be out to restore some pride in the abridged version.

The return of skipper Habibul Bashar, who missed the Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy as well as the Tests due to a nasty thumb injury, however, will boost the confidence level of the side.

Bashar led Bangladesh to their lone one-day success this year with victory in the third one-dayer against Zimbabwe at Harare. That victory ended Bangladesh's 51-match losing streak.

Ahead of the first match, coach Whatmore has been seriously working on the batting aspects, which has been consistently inconsistent.

"We are now working hard on our batting. If only the players could play to their potential instead of throwing their wickets at crucial stages, then I believe that success is not far away," Mahmud told journalists after the second day's practice at the country's second Test venue.

But when asked what were they expecting to achieve in the first one-day, Mahmud gave a rather diplomatic response.

"We will try our very best and that's all I can say," he said.

Mahmud wanted his team to draw inspiration left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, who became the Bangladesh bowler to claim 50 wickets in Test cricket.

"He is a real fighter. He tries to do well even when it comes to batting."

Meanwhile, New Zealand, who spent a couple of hours at the picturesque Bhatiari Golf and Country Club on Saturday, also returned to training.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori will lead the Black Caps in the one-day series after Stephen Fleming returned home on Friday after completing a Test series whitewash over the Test babes.