Bangladesh keen to defy history against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh hosts a “formidable” Sri Lanka in a twomatch Test series starting on Friday and ambitions are growing after years of struggle.
Bangladesh finished last in the 20212023 World Test Championship, winning one of its 12 matches.
But in its previous Test series, against New Zealand in NovemberDecember, Bangladesh won the first match before losing the second.
“We have high expectations,” Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha told reporters here ahead of the first Test. “If we can win most matches at home, then we give ourselves a good chance to be in contention in the World Test Championship.”
Hathurusingha warned however that he was expecting a tough challenge, calling it a “formidable, very experienced side”.
Bangladesh will have to defy recent history. It has won one of its 24 Tests against Sri Lanka, with its only victory coming seven years ago in Colombo.
Bangladesh will also be without Mushfiqur Rahim, who was ruled out of the series with a thumb injury.
The hosts might hand debuts to uncapped fast bowlers Mushfik Hasan and Nahid Rana.
The teams (from): Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Capt.), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Shadman Islam, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Towhid Hridoy, Shahadat Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam,
Syed Khaled Ahmed, Mushfik Hasan and Nahid Rana.
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (Capt.), Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Gunasekara.