Bangladesh will be keen to end a disastrous run when they host Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday. The Tigers are yet to win a match since crushing West Indies in ODIs at home. They lost the subsequent Test series and suffered defeat in all the fixtures in the New Zealand tour. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has played only three ODIs in 2021 but failed to pick up a win in any one of them. But the Island nation managed to win a Test series against Bangladesh recently.
Shakib returns
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who skipped the New Zealand tour, is back in the squad. He picked up six wickets and struck a half-century in the limited-overs series against West Indies at home. Skipper Tamim Iqbal, too, has been excellent in form as he registered three ODI half-centuries in 2021 so far. Meanwhile, Tamim’s fellow opener Liton Das will be keen to find his rhythm after managing just 76 runs in his last six ODIs.
Squad: Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Aminul Islam Biplob, Taijul Islam, Shohidul Islam
Prolific Gunathilaka
With scores of 55, 96, and 36, Danushka Gunathilaka was Sri Lanka’s lone bright spark in the ODIs against West Indies. The 30-year-old, who scores runs at a brisk pace, will be hoping to convert half-centuries into hundreds in Bangladesh. Kusal Perera is the player to watch out for as the flamboyant batsman is appointed captain. The selectors have left out senior players Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Lahiru Thirimanne from the 18-member squad.
Squad: Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya De Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando
Stats & Facts
- M Rahman has clinched a six wicket-haul and two five-wicket hauls at Shere Bangla National Stadium
- Kusal Mendis averages 43 against Bangladesh in ODIs. He has scored a century and two half-centuries in nine innings
- A Bandara made two half-centuries in the ODI series against West Indies in March 2021
- Sri Lanka lost only once in their last seven outings against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium
- The last time Sri Lanka played an ODI against Bangladesh, D Shanaka struck a 14-ball 30 and picked up three wickets
Previous meeting
July 2019: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 122 runs
Sri Lanka 294/8 (A Mathews 87, K Mendis 54; S Sarkar 3/56, S Islam 3/68)
Bangladesh 172 all out (S Sarkar 69; D Shanaka 3/27, K Rajitha 2/17, L Kumara 2/26)
Top 3 ODI Fantasy Points scorers in 2021
| Player |
Matches |
Points |
| T Iqbal |
6 |
337 |
| S-Al-Hasan |
3 |
305 |
| M Rahim |
6 |
281 |
Sri Lanka
| Player |
Matches |
Points |
| D Gunathilaka |
3 |
261 |
| W Hasaranga |
3 |
202 |
| A Bandara |
3 |
169 |
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Parameswaran Sankaranarayanan
Parameswaran Sankaranarayan is a sports enthusiast who has worked in print, website, and other digital platforms. He was part of the editorial team of first-ever Indian football-based website - IndianFootball.com (now defunct) - and passionately follows the latest happenings in world football. During his time as a journalist, he had the opportunity to interact with some of the iconic personalities in Indian sports and witness some memorable moments in Indian football.
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