Tigers set sight on ODI mission
Online Desk : Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will start their limited overs-campaign in Sri Lanka playing a warm-up match against a local selection on Wednesda.
The three-match ODI series will be kicked off on 25 March and that will be followed by two T20I encounters to end the tour . The venue and the starting time of the only warm-up match ahead of the series have not been confirmed yet.
Bangladesh’s record in ODIs against Sri Lanka is better than in other formats of cricket, having four wins in 38 outings. Mashrafe’s men will look to keep the momentum going from the landmark victory in the 2nd Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Sunday, their first in the longer format.
The series will surely be the Tigers’ best chance to cement their qualification for the next ODI World Cup in 2019, to be hosted by England. Although the ICC continues to drag its feet over what the exact qualification criteria will be, it is safe to say the teams ranked 1 to 7 will hold the aces.
The first two ODIs will be held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on 25 and 28 March, while the third and final match will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo on 1 April.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on 13 March announced a 16-member squad bringing uncapped left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and recalling all-rounder Shuvagata Hom. Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Tanbir Hayder have been excluded from the last squad that played against the New Zealand in December 2016.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket also announced their 15-man squad on 17 March, bringing changes to their last squad against South Africa in February 2017. Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera both earn recalls, while opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka receives his first call-up, graduating from the Sri Lanka A side.
Upul Tharanga will lead the hosts since Angelo Mathews is unavailable due to injury.
Bangladesh Squad: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, , Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Sunzamul Islam, Shuvagata Hom and Nurul Hasan.
Sri Lanka Squad: Upul Tharanga (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal (wicketkeeper), Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vikum Sanjaya, Thisara Perera, Sachith Pathirana, Seekkuge Prassanna and Lakshan Sandakan.
