The much-anticipated hybrid model of the Asia Cup has been set up with the Nepal-Pakistan match. Bangladesh’s Asia Cup starts today, Thursday. Shakib Al Hasan’s team will face hosts Sri Lanka. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time at Pallekele.
Bangladesh has reached the final of the Asia Cup three times but has not yet tasted the trophy. Shakib Al Hasan, who was eager to start the campaign with a win in the mission to break the trophy drought, said before leaving the country, ‘We are only thinking about the Asia Cup at the moment and especially about the matches against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.’
Although Bangladesh’s plan has been somewhat hampered by the departure of wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das. Tamim Iqbal left before the announcement of the Asia Cup squad due to injury. Liton was expected to show hope in Bangladesh’s batting. However, he could not catch the plane with the team in the first phase due to fever. It was then thought that even if he did not play in the first match of the Asia Cup, he would be able to play in the rest of the matches. But that did not happen either.
The Tiger team management waited for Liton until the last moment. But he has not yet recovered from viral fever. As a result, Liton has left the entire Asia Cup. And in his place, Anamul Haque Bijoy has been called up again.
Captain Shakib Al Hasan wants to move on with the situation in mind. Before taking part in the first match today (Wednesday), captain Shakib Al Hasan said at a press conference that they are confident. He said, 'Actually, I don’t want to win depending on one department. I think if we play well in every department, it can be a pace bowling attack, a spinner, a batter, a fielder.
‘If we play well in these four places, then our chances of winning will be higher. And we will try to do that, we want to play all-round cricket. Not that only pacers will win us or only batters will win us, not that. We want to win by playing better than them from all sides.’-Shakib added.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka has been plagued by injuries from before the start of the tournament. Star leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is not able to play due to injury. Hasaranga was the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in the recently concluded Lankan Premier League (LPL). In addition, they are not getting their main pace unit due to injury.
But the Bangladesh captain does not underestimate the Lankan bowling unit, ‘Yes, in terms of experience. But what I said is that those who are playing for Sri Lanka have just come from LPL. Those who have performed have come to the team. There is nothing to underestimate anyone. They will also be eager to perform well. As we have experience, maybe we can use it in our work. But that doesn’t mean it will have much effect on tomorrow’s match.’
Meanwhile, Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka is also praising Bangladesh. Calling Bangladesh a good team, Shanaka said, 'We know how much pressure India and Pakistan are under. We know we are a good team. Bangladesh are also a good team.
‘Unfortunately, they did not win any Asia Cup or World Cup. They have potential players. It is important before going to the World Cup. They have to start somewhere. We used to play more against India before. Now it’s new. Bangladesh wants to do well. I don’t see any duality in this. But cricket is like that.’
Nagin Dance
The exciting situation created between the players in the last moments of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match in the Nidahas Trophy is remembered by both teams. That day Bangladesh won dramatically against Lanka and reached the final. It was hard for Lanka to accept such a loss at home ground at the last moment. In between there was salt on their wounds - Bangladesh’s Nagin dance. The Bangladesh players were ecstatic with Nagin's dance that day in the joy of victory. Basically, since then there has been extra heat between the supporters of both countries.
Who is ahead in statistics?
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have faced each other 15 times in the Asia Cup so far. Sri Lanka have won 12 of them. But Bangladesh has won three of the last five matches between the two teams in the Asia Cup. This proves that the Tigers have narrowed the gap between them and Sri Lanka. However, at one time Lanka was invincible against the Tigers.
In addition, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have faced each other 51 times in ODI format so far. Lanka has won 40 of them and Bangladesh has won nine matches. The remaining two matches were abandoned.
The squads of the two teams
Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Tanjim Hasan Sakib and Anamul Haque Bijoy.
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Sadira Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhanith Wellalage, Mahesh Tikshana, Pramod Madushan, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Mathisha Pathirana.
