Getting better, but haven't reached our desired level: Mashrafe

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that people shouldn't read too much into the hosts' dreadful record at R. Premadasa Stadium ahead of first of two Twenty20 International on Tuesday. Sri Lanka have lost ten of their 11 T20Is played at the venue with their only win coming in the World Twenty20 semi-final against Pakistan in 2012.

"When we played the ODI series decider against England in Chittagong last year, we lost despite having a good record there. So these things don't really matter much," Mashrafe said on Monday (April 3).

Sri Lanka are a confident unit having recorded series wins in Australia and South Africa in the last three months. "They are playing in Sri Lanka, so they know the conditions very well. I think they played really well against Australia and South Africa so it is not going to be easy. We are mentally getting ready to fight them," Mashrafe added.

Bangladesh have only played one T20 series since the World Twenty20 last year in India, being whitewashed 3-0 in that series against New Zealand.

"We will try to play with our best tomorrow. We are playing a different format, in which our recent performance hasn't been that great. We are hoping to play to our potential.

"We couldn't finish well in the World T20 last year. We are getting better but we haven't reached our desired level. Most of the other teams are doing better than us in T20s. We need some impact players. The more our younger players play T20s, we will become a better side in this format," Mashrafe went on to say.

Sri Lanka's T20 side is quite different from their one-day outfit with some experienced players in this format returning to the side. "They have some impact players like Chamara Kapugedara, Lasith Malinga and Dilshan Munaweera. They can turn around the game. This team won in Australia and South Africa. Winning in South Africa is very hard for Asian teams, so their team is doing well in this format. They are confident. It won't be easy for us if we don't play at our best."

Mashrafe said that Bangladesh should take inspiration from their come-from-behind victory in the second Test in Colombo. "Even if we are not favourites, it doesn't mean we can't win or play well. Sri Lanka crushed Australia 3-0, but we beat them despite being 1-0 down. So even if Sri Lanka are favourites having won in Australia and South Africa, we can compete and win.

"We have a lot of impact players but they have to settle down first. We have Sabbir Rahman, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim. They have to combine to play well, which is important," Mashrafe elaborated.

Pakistan jump to fourth spot in T20I rankings

Pakistan climbed to the fourth spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 International (T20I) team rankings after their 3-1 win over West Indies in the four-match series, the world governing body announced on Monday (April 3).

The visitors climbed two positions and now have 116 points while the World T20 champions slipped to the sixth spot and have 112 points. New Zealand continue to lead the table while India hold the second spot with 124 points. South Africa complete the Top 3 while while England hold the fifth spot.

Pakistan won the first two T20Is before Evin Lewis smashed 91 to keep West Indies afloat with a seven-wicket win in the third match. The visitors then bounced back to seal the series after a seven-wicket win in the last game.

The two teams will now play three One-Day Internationals and three Tests.

Sri Lanka look to maintain impressive run in T20s

Sri Lanka are perhaps going through their toughest phase in cricket since being granted full member status of the International Cricket Council in 1981. Several high profile retirements over the last two years has seen a steady decline of the Sri Lankan team. They were whitewashed 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in the One-Day Internationals when they toured South Africa in December. Then Bangladesh recorded their maiden Test win over them with a stunning four-wicket victory in Colombo. The hosts could only square the three-match ODI series 1-1 after the second game was washed out. However, in T20s, the Sri Lankans have some momentum with series wins in Australia and South Africa in the last two months.

Bangladesh have had fewer opportunities in T20 cricket. Since the ICC World Twenty20 in India last year, they only played one series in the shortest form of the game. The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, played four series in that period. The highly successful Bangladesh Premier League has given the Bangladeshi players much needed exposure in T20s with an opportunity rub shoulders with some of the finest players in the game. Lack of a solid domestic T20 competition has hurt the Sri Lankans, but there are efforts to identify players who are suited for this fast-paced game.

Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, batsmen who were part of the squad that won the series in South Africa, have been left out while Shehan Jayasuriya, Danushka Gunathilaka and Thisara Perera, perhaps players with a better T20 mindset have been included.

Both games will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankans have a horrendous record at the ground; ten losses in the 11 games they have played there, including a World T20 final in 2012. Often the hosts have cracked under pressure here with massive numbers turning up for the game. A sell-out crowd is expected on Tuesday (April 4).

We are in good shape in T20 cricket: Upul Tharanga

Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Upul Tharanga believes his team has more confidence going into the two-match T20I series against Bangladesh following series wins in Australia and South Africa in recent months. Tharanga became only the third Sri Lankan captain to win a series in Australia after Angelo Mathews and Kumar Sangakkara. He was also part of the side that won a series in South Africa in January.

"We are more confident leading into the T20 series having won in Australia and South Africa. They are top teams in the T20 format and we felt good after those series wins. We are in good shape in the T20s. We have got lot more experience with players like Lasith Malinga coming in. He is a big match winner for us," Tharanga said on Monday (April 3).

Sri Lanka however are without the services of regular captain Mathews. The all-rounder hasn't played any cricket since returning home from the tour of South Africa with a hamstring injury. His recovery was going well and he was expected to feature in the T20s. But while trying to bowl during training, Mathews hurt his right calf and was ruled out of the series.

"He's been the best player for us over the last few years. We can't replace a player like him. The good thing for us is that we did well without him in Australia. Someone like Asela Gunaratne stepped up and performed well," Tharanga added.

One good news for Sri Lanka is that wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Perera has recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the ODIs against Bangladesh. "Kusal is completely healed now. He had a fitness test earlier today and he came out well. He is fit and available," Tharanga added.

There has been much debate after the 22-year-old Kusal Mendis was left out of the T20 squad. Mendis, who smashed a stunning 194 in the first Test in Galle, scored a maiden ODI hundred in the second ODI and was named Player of the Series.

"He's playing Tests and ODIs really well. In T20s though he hasn't been that successful. The Champions Trophy is coming, and hopefully he'll be in a good mental state for that. If we give him a break here, he can concentrate on the longer formats, and we can get more out of him there," Tharanga argued.

Cummins, Walton return for Pakistan ODIs

West Indies have named a 13-man squad to play the first two ODIs of the three-match series against Pakistan, with Carlos Brathwaite being the notable omission due to his IPL commitments. Miguel Cummins and Chadwick Walton earned recalls.

Walton last played an ODI in 2014 but featured in the recently concluded T20Is against Pakistan. Cummins has played only two ODIs so far after making his debut in 2014.

The axing of Kraigg Brathwaite is the only other change to the squad that played against England in March. The right-hander had a quiet series, managing just 61 runs in three games.

West Indies, who are currently ranked ninth with 84 points in the latest ICC team rankings, are set play three ODIs against Pakistan on April 7, 9 and 11 respectively at the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana. They are under pressure to improve their position on the table as only the top eight ranked teams as of September 30, 2017, will earn an automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

With the addition of a series against Afghanistan, West Indies now have a total of 12 ODIs - three each against Pakistan and Afghanistan, a one-off against Ireland and five away games against England - before the cut-off date.

Squad: Jason Holder (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton

KKR rope in Colin de Grandhomme as Russell's replacement

Kolkata Knight Riders have called in New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme in place of the suspended West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League 2017.

De Grandhomme, who has played six Tests, nine one-dayers and eight Twenty20 Internationals for New Zealand, will make his IPL debut, and be an apt replacement for the hard-hitting Russell, being a handy lower-order batsman himself. He also doubles as a more-than-useful seam bowler, famously taking a six-wicket haul on his Test debut against Pakistan.

Russell was ruled out of the tournament following his one-year ban. He was suspended for having violated a whereabouts clause under the anti-doping rules by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier in January this year. Following the announcement in January, KKR CEO Venky Mysore, termed it as a "big loss".

KKR will kickstart their campaign in the tenth edition of th
e tournament on Friday (April 7) in Rajkot against Gujarat Lions.

Mustafizur is expected to arrive on April 7: Moody

Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody on Sunday said that Bangladesh's left-arm pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman is expected to join the franchise on April 7 after playing the final match of the limited overs series against Sri Lanka.

There were unconfirmed reports that said that the 'cutter master' will not be available during this season of IPL after playing a major role in defending champions' triumph.

"At this stage, we are expecting him to come. We have not had any official word in any other way. We are expecting him to be here on (April) 7th. Unless, we hear differently from BCB, we will continue to expect him," he said.

Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 5 in the inaugural match which Mustafizur will be missing.

According to Moody, there's no pressure being defending champions.

"To me, it's not just another chapter, actually another book. So, I am not concerned about last year of anything. Just proud of what the players achieved last year," he told reporters.
There are no injury concerns too for the side at the moment, the Australian veteran said. Moody defended concerns regarding David Warner's lean patch.

"Warner is 100 percent fit and he would soon join the team shortly from Australia, where he is spending quality time with his family," he said.

To a query, he said the team is also not worried about the form of Shikhar Dhawan, who has had a lean period, and it is confident that the opener would come good when it is required. Dhawan however has found some form in Deodhar Trophy.

Moody said that Afghans Rashid Khan Arman and Mohammed Nabi will add value to the squad.
"We are really excited about both Nabi and Rashid. Both have terrific, not only couple of months but over a year of form. Both add lot of variety to the squad. Rashid is obviously a pretty unique leg-spinner. We welcome both of them and look forward to working with them," he said.

SRH players Ben Laughlin and Chris Jordan, who were also present on the occasion, said they are looking forward to the tournament.

টাইগারদের কাছে একটি ছোট চাওয়া হাথুরুসিংহের

সেই ১৯৭৫ সালে প্রথম বিশ্বকাপ দিয়ে শুরু যাত্রা।  তারপর ৪২ বছর ধরে ওয়ানডে খেলছে শ্রীলঙ্কা।  এই সাড়ে তিন যুগের ইতিহাস ঘাটার দরকার নেই।  সর্বশেষ চারটি হোম সিরিজের ফল লক্ষ্য করলেই পরিষ্কার বোঝা যাবে ঘরের মাঠে শ্রীলঙ্কা সব সময়ই কঠিন প্রতিপক্ষ।

ইতিহাস ও পরিসংখ্যান জানাচ্ছে, ২০১৪ সালের নভেম্বর থেকে এ সিরিজের আগ পর্যন্ত চার চারটি সিরিজ খেলেছে লঙ্কানরা।  এমন একটি সিরিজও নেই, যেখানে তারা অন্তত একটি ম্যাচ জিতেনি।  ২০১৪ সালের নভেম্বরে ইংল্যান্ডের বিপক্ষে ৫-২ ব্যবধানে সিরিজ জয়।

এরপর পাকিস্তানের সাথে দেশের মাটিতে প্রবল লড়াইয়ের পর ৩-২ তে হেরে যাওয়া।  তারপর আবার ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজের বিপক্ষে ৩-০ তে সিরিজ জয়।  আর সর্বশেষ অস্ট্রেলিয়ার সাথে ২০১৬ সালের আগস্ট-সেপ্টেম্বরে ৪-১ ব্যবধানে হার।  বাংলাদেশের কোচিংয়ের দায়িত্ব পালন করলেও নিজ দেশের ইতিহাস-পরিসংখ্যান ভালোই জানা চণ্ডিকা হাথুরুসিংহের।

তার প্রমাণ মিলল আজ অনুশীলনে।  বাংলাদেশের সাংবাদিকদের সাথে আলাপে কথা বলার এক পর্যায়ে আগামী পরশু তৃতীয় ও শেষ ম্যাচ নিয়ে প্রশ্ন।  টাইগার কোচের কাছে জানতে চাওয়া হলো সিরিজ জয়ের বিষয়ে তিনি কতটা আশাবাদী?

এর জবাব দিতে গিয়ে বাংলাদেশ কোচ খুবই সতর্ক ও সাবধানে পা ফেলেছেন।  তার কণ্ঠে ও চোখে-মুখে আশার ঝিলিক ছিল পরিষ্কার।  কিন্তু শ্রীলঙ্কাকে হেলাফেলা করে হালকাভাবে নেওয়ার কথাও বলেননি।  বরং আগে বলে নিয়েছেন, ‘শ্রীলঙ্কা ঘরের মাঠে সব সময় খুব ভালো দল।  কঠিন ও প্রবল প্রতিপক্ষ।  আমার মনে পড়ে না যে, এক সিরিজে শেষ কবে সব মাচ হেরেছে লঙ্কানরা।  কাজেই ১ এপ্রিল শেষ ম্যাচে আমাদের জিততে সামর্থ্যের সেরাটা উপহার দিতে হবে।  আমি নিশ্চিত দেশের মাটিতে শ্রীলঙ্কা জিততে মরিয়া হয়ে মাঠে নামবে। ’

ওপরের অংশ শুনে ভাববেন না নিজ দলের সম্ভাবনা সম্পর্কে বুঝি কম বলেছেন হাথুরু।  মোটেই তা নয়।  পরের কথায় ফুটে উঠেছে তার সত্যিকার মনোভাব।  তার সোজা-সাপ্টা কথা, ‘প্রক্রিয়াগুলো ঠাক রাখার পাশাপাশি সামর্থ্যের সঠিক প্রয়োগ ঘটাতে পারলে জয়ের ব্যাপারে আমি অত্যন্ত আশাবাদী।  আমরা শুধু যে ১-০ তে এগিয়ে আছি তাই নয়, এখন আর সিরিজে হারার প্রশ্নই আসে না।  লঙ্কানদেরও খুব ভালো খেলতে হবে।  আর আমাদের সিরিজ নিশ্চিত করতে হলে সেরা খেলাটাই খেলতে হবে। ’

তার কোচিংয়ে ২০১৪ সালে জুন মাস থেকে খেলছে বাংলাদেশ।  প্রায় তিন বছর হতে চলল।  এর মধ্যে ভারত, পাকিস্তান ও দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার বিশ্বমানের তিন দলের সাথে ঘরের মাঠে সিরিজ বিজয়ের ঐতিহাসিক সাফল্য আছে।  যার মধ্যে পাকিস্তানকে ৩-০ ব্যবধানে ‘বাংলাওয়াশ’ আর ভারত ও দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার সাথে ২-১ ব্যবধানে সিরিজ হারানোর রেকর্ড আছে বাংলাদেশের।  ওই তিন সিরিজেই ব্যাট ও বলে টাইগারদের দুর্দাণ্ড প্রতাপে মাঠ কেঁপেছে।  প্রতিপক্ষ দলের নাভিশ্বাস উঠে গেছে।

তারপরও ২৫ মার্চ ডাম্বুলার রণগিরি স্টেডিয়ামে ব্যাটিং, বোলিং, ফিল্ডিং ও ক্যাচিংয়ে অনন্য মাশরাফি বাহিনীকে দেখে অনেকের মতো যারপরনাই সস্তুষ্ট হাথুরুসিংহেও।  তাইতো মুখে এমন প্রশংসা, ‘আমার মনে হয় প্রথম ওয়ানডেতে দারুণ খেলেছে দল।  আমার কোচিংয়ে কয়েকটি বেশ ভালো টিম পারফরম্যান্স আছে।  তবে এ সিরিজের প্রথম ম্যাচটি বোধ হয় তার অন্যতম সেরা টিম পারফরম্যান্স। ’

তবে কোচ বেশি খুশি ব্যাটসম্যানদের ওপর।  কেন খুশি তাও জানা হলো।  এতকাল তিনি চাইতেন ৫০ ওভারের ম্যাচের পুরো সময় আর ২০ ওভারের ফরম্যাটের শেষ বল পর্যন্ত যেন এক থেকে সাত নম্বর পর্যন্ত অন্তত একজন ব্যাটসম্যান উইকেটে থাকেন।

তাহলে শেষ দিকে যারা উইকেটে আসেন ব্যাট করতে, তারা বাড়তি সাহস পান।  ব্যাট চালানোও তুলনামূলক সহজ হয়।  বলার অপেক্ষা রাখে না, ডাম্বুলার রণগিরি স্টেডিয়ামে অনেকদিন পর সেই লক্ষ্য পূরণ হয়েছে কোচের।  সে ম্যাচে সাত নম্বরে উইকেটে আসা মোসাদ্দেক শেষ বল পর্যন্ত উইকেটে ছিলেন।  আর তাইতে শেষ ১৩ বলে রান উঠেছে ৩৫।

বাংলাদেশ কোচ মনেপ্রাণে চান আগে কিংবা পরে যখনই ব্যাটিং করা হোক না কেন, আগামী শনিবারের ম্যাচেও যেন শেষ বল পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশের সাত ব্যাটসম্যানের একজন ৫০ ওভার পর্যন্ত উইকেটে থাকেন।  তাই মুখে এ কথা, ‘আমার দেখা ব্যাটিং গ্রুপ হিসেবে ২৫ মার্চের ব্যাটিংটা অন্যতম সেরা পারফরম্যান্স।  আমি সব সময় চাই ৫০ ওভারের ম্যাচ ও ২০ ওভারের ফরম্যাটের শেষ বল অবধি আমার দলের প্রথম সাত ব্যাটসম্যানের অন্তত একজন উইকেটে থাকতে পারে।

প্রথম ম্যাচে সেটাই হয়েছে।  আমার গেম প্ল্যান সফল হয়েছে।  সে আলোকে বলতে গেলে বলতে হয়, ওটাই ছিল আমাদের যথার্থ ব্যাটিং। ’

সানরাইজার্স হায়দ্রাবাদের জন্য বিশাল দুঃসংবাদ

এবারের আইপিএলে খেলা হবে না মুস্তাফিজের তা জানিয়ে দিলেন নিজেই।  আরও জানালেন, দলের সতীর্থদের মিস করবেন তিনি, বিশেষ করে অস্ট্রেলিয়ার ডেভিড ওয়ার্নার ও ভারতের যুবরাজ সিংয়ের কাছ থেকে অনেক শেখার সুযোগ পেয়েছেন তিনি।

ক’দিন আগে খোদ অধিনায়ক মাশরাফি বিন মুর্তজাও সাফ বলে দিয়েছিলেন, ইন্ডিয়ান প্রিমিয়ার লিগ (আইপিএল) নয়, জাতীয় দলেই বেশি মনোযোগী হওয়া উচিৎ মুস্তাফিজের।  এবার মুস্তাফিজ নিজেও অধিনায়কের সাথেই গলা মেলালেন।

মুস্তাফিজ স্পোর্টস স্টার লাইভকে বলেন, ‘আমার মনে হয় না আমি এবার আইপিএল খেলতে পারব।  এখনও বিসিবির অনুমতির অপেক্ষায় আছি।  আর খুব বেশি ম্যাচ এমনিতেও খেলতে পারব না।  গেলেও মে মাসের প্রথম সপ্তাহের মধ্যে ফিরতে হবে। ’

আর সানরাইজার্স হায়দ্রাবাদের ভেতরের খবর হল, এবার আইপিএলে থাকছেন না মুস্তাফিজ।  বিসিবির কাছ থেকে এখনও তিনি এনওসি বা অনাপত্তিপত্র পাননি।  আগামী পাঁচ এপ্রিল শুরু হবে আইপিএলের দশম আসর।

তবে, সেখানে মুস্তাফিজের থাকার সম্ভাবনা নেই বললেই চলে।  সেই বাস্তবতা মেনে নিয়েছেন কাটার মাস্টার নিজেই।  বললেন, ‘ইনজুরি থেকে ফেরার পর এখনও ছন্দ ফিরে পাইনি।  মাশরাফি ভাই তাই এবার আইপিএলে না যেতে বলেছেন।  তাঁর পরামর্শ আমি গুরুত্ব দিয়ে বিবেচনা করছি।  সামনে আমাদের লম্বা মৌসুম, আমার ফিট থাকা তাই জরুরী। ’

গত আসরেই প্রথমবারের মত আইপিএল খেলতে গিয়েছিলেন বাঁ-হাতি এই পেসার।  আর এই মুস্তাফিজের দাপটেই প্রথমবারের মত শিরোপা জেতে দলটি। 

Bangladesh look forward to clinch the top spot

Bangladesh will look forward to keep the winning momentum against Pakistan in the last match of the group stage on Thursday. Currently Bangladesh top the group list with slightly better run-rate.



Bangladesh beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets in the opening match of the Max Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2017. Mominul Haque and Nasir Hossain both picked up 3 wickets each while Saif Hassan’s fifty helped Bangladesh to seal a comprehensive victory.



In the 2nd match Bangladesh won by 83 runs against Nepal. Nasir Hossain scored an unbeaten century and guided Bangladesh to post a total of 257/9 after an early collapse. Nepal were never in the game as they lost the wickets in regular basis. Javed picked up 4 wickets and Saif grabbed 3.



On the other hand Pakistan  also won their both matches. They beat Nepal by 6 wickets in the opening match and then thrashed Hong Kong to beat them by 248 runs in the 2nd match.



Winner of this match will be the group champion to play in the semi-final. Match will start at 9 am Bangladesh time.

Second ODI has been abandoned after Taskin’s hat-trick

The 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was abandoned due to heavy rain at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Bangladesh is leading the series 1-0.

Earlier Upul Tharanga won the toss and elected to bat first. Mashrafe Mortaza gave the first breakthrough to Bangladesh by dismissing Danushka Gunathilaka on 9. Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis added 111 runs in the 2nd wicket partnership. Tharanga was run out on 65.

After a while Mustafizur Rahman picked up the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal on 24. Kusal Mendis was gone for 102 after Taskin Ahmed took a fantastic catch of his own bowling. Milinda Siriwardana looked dangerous before Mehedi Hasan dismissed him on 30. Thisara Perera and Dilruwan Perera both were run out by Mushfiqur Rahim.

Taskin grabbed three wickets in a row in the last over to bowl Sri Lanka all out for 311. Taskin is the fifth Bangladeshi bowler to pick up a hat-trick in ODI after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Rajjak, Rubel Hossain and Taijul Islam.

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Dambulla – Preview

Home side could ring in changes as it aims to keep series alive, Mortaza keen that his batsmen build on startsEverything has been coming together so well for Bangladesh, and it’s been happening more and more of late. In the first One-Day International of the three-match series in Sri Lanka on Saturday, it went almost like clockwork for the side.

Asked to bat first, it had one top-order batsman, Tamim Iqbal, scoring a reasonably quick century – 127 in 142 balls, and two other batsmen – Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan – adding quick half-centuries. If that wasn’t enough, Mosaddek Hossain and Mahmudullah hit 37 runs in 16 balls between them to provide the final thrust. All of it added up to 324 runs on the board, and it was followed by a strong enough bowling performance, scoreboard pressure telling on the Sri Lankan batting line-up as it folded for 234 with 29 balls left in the chase.

It wasn’t what Sri Lanka would have wanted after the Test series ended 1-1. In ODIs, Bangladesh is a stronger outfit than it is in Tests, so the dominant performance was only to be expected. And Sri Lanka can expect more of the same from Bangladesh now in the second game, on Tuesday (March 28) in Dambulla.

It is a match the home side would be desperate to win to stay alive in the series, with Bangladesh understandably keen to carry on the good work and seal the matter with one game left.

This isn’t the best team Sri Lanka can put on the field. It would have liked to have Angelo Mathews, the regular captain, and Kusal Perera, the wicketkeeper-batsman, around. The absence of the two key players has certainly hit it hard, but with some pedigree in the batting order in the form of Upul Tharanga, the captain, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka should hope to put up decent totals, especially with hard-hitters like Thisara Perera and Asela Gunaratne to build on good foundations.

The bowling is not weak either, with Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara the main pacers and Thisara and Gunaratne, its best bowler in the first game, around for back-up. The spin department fronted by Sachith Pathirana, the left-arm spinner, and Lakshan Sandakan, the left-arm wrist-spinner, is handy too.

Seekkuge Prasanna didn’t play the first game, as was the case with Dhananjaya de Silva; Sri Lanka would be tempted to tinker with its XI in this must-win game, and de Silva’s name is bound to come up.