World Cup scars still fresh as Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh

by Rex Clementine

The last time Bangladesh and Sri Lanka met in a cricket contest; the cricketing world was engulfed with one of the sport’s biggest controversies. Bangladesh had effected Angelo Mathews dismissal having appealed for timed out. It was the first time ever a batsman had been given timed out in international cricket. The entire nation was fuming.

Most Sri Lankans would agree that the Bangladeshis should be given a taste of their own medicine. But we are a nation with rich cricket traditions and history than Bangladesh. Afterall, we have won two World Cups and we are the only Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa. What have Bangladesh won?

The Mathews incident had a major impact. Sri Lanka lost the game and as a result Bangladesh finished ahead of Sri Lanka in the World Cup points table and qualified for next year’s Champions Trophy.

Today’s first T-20 International will get underway at 5:30 pm Sri Lanka time.May be the Sri Lankans will not be that fired up this evening for Shakib al Hasan, who was center of the controversy is not part of the white ball squads due to health reasons.

Mahmudullah Riyad is back in the side and he is expected to play his first T-20 International since 2022.

Sri Lanka will have a new captain as Charith Asalanka leads the side with Wanindu Hasaranga suspended for two games.Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay is expected to take Hasaranga’s place strengthening the bowling department.

Sri Lanka also recalled opening batsman Avishka Fernando for the injured Pathum Nissanka.Kusal Perera had to withdraw from the tour in the last minute and he was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella.

Sri Lanka’s confidence is sky high having won five series in a row inside five months.The three match T-20 series will be followed by three ODIs. This is Sri Lanka’s last white ball series ahead of the T-20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.Sri Lanka will also play two Test matches during the tour.

Bangladesh T20I squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Das, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan and Aliss Al Islam.

Sri Lanka T20 squad

Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay.