Get ready as we preview the exciting first T20 International between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, kicking off on Thursday 15 February at the iconic Mirpur stadium.
Following their ODI tri-series with Zimbabwe and a challenging two-Test series against each other, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are shifting focus to fast-paced T20 cricket. Both teams will be missing key all-rounders, making this match even more interesting.
Sri Lanka has yet to beat Bangladesh in the shortest format at Mirpur and suffered a defeat against them in April 2017. The visitors are eager for revenge, while the hosts aim to build on their successful record here.
Match Details:
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | Thursday, 15 February | Shere Bangla National Stadium | 13:00
Betting Odds to Win Match
- Bangladesh 11/1
- Tie 35/1
- Sri Lanka 72/100
Bangladesh Preview
Bangladesh come with plenty of positives from the recent ODI tri-series, where they managed an exciting win over Sri Lanka once but lost twice. Rekindling the spirit from that first victory and correcting past missteps will be critical. Their capacity to handle pressure moments might be the game-changer.
However, they will miss the versatile Shakib Al Hasan due to a hand injury, impacting both their batting and bowling strength. Leadership responsibilities now fall heavily on Mushfiqur Rahim, with key players like Soumya Sarkar and Rubel Hossain needing to step up.
The squad boasts star players Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman, but also includes five uncapped players who will face a steep learning curve against a savvy Sri Lankan team.
The pitch is expected to favor spin, reducing the role of seamers, and at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh have recorded only seven T20I wins out of 19 games. Still, historic wins against top teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka here in 2016 give them confidence.
Sri Lanka Preview
Like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka face a big loss with Angelo Mathews sidelined by injury. His batting prowess will be sorely missed. This opens the door for other middle-order batsmen to shine and lessen reliance on Mathews to produce match-winning scores.
Openers Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga need to provide strong starts, especially in the opening powerplay overs.
This series will mark the first T20I challenge under new coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who has introduced exciting young talents Asitha Fernando and Shehan Madushanka in the seam department. The decision to exclude veteran Lasith Malinga adds extra pressure on the new players. Additionally, spinners Jeffrey Vandersay, Amila Aponso, and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka have been drafted in.
Sri Lanka’s recent T20I form has been below par, losing to India and Pakistan in recent series and not winning a T20I in 10 months. However, their past strong form against Australia shows the talent and spirit they need to rediscover to succeed against Bangladesh.
Verdict: Sri Lanka 72/100
Both teams are currently positioned in the lower half of the ICC T20 rankings, alongside Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Scotland. We believe Sri Lanka will edge ahead in this series, asserting their dominance over Bangladesh.
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