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Download PDF Under a new format, the ICC Champions Trophy gets underway with a confident Bangladesh facing in-form Sri Lanka in the opening match of the preliminary round at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here today.
The fifth version of the so-called mini World Cup will see Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe compete in the round robin league from where two teams will join the top six ICC-ranked sides in the tournament proper.
The day-night match will start at 2:45 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time BST) with Bangladesh Television and SET Max beaming live coverage.
It would be a daunting task for the Tigers to knock down a team like Sri Lanka for the second time as the islanders have come into the competition in great form and on the back of a 5-0 whitewash of England under the leadership of inspirational Mahela Jayawardene.
But Habibul Bashar’s men promised not to give up without fighting and they expressed the desire to make a place in the final round although their venture in the tournament had never been an encouraging one, especially in the last competition in England two years back when they suffered humiliating defeats.
“I still believe that realistically we have a chance to win the match. My boys are very much confident to push the opponents hard. Our two injured bowlers (Mashrafee Bin Mortuza and Syed Rasel) are now okay. Most importantly the young side are improving well,” said Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore on the eve of the match.
Bangladesh once had an agonising record against the Lankans but they managed to put on a brake on the 15-match losing streak last February with their first one-day victory against the islanders at Bogra. Still Sri Lanka have an upperhand with 16 wins in 17 clashes.
Bangladesh announced a 12-member squad leaving out Rajin Saleh and uncapped Mehrab Hossain are expected to decide on the final eleven after another inspection of the pitch.
The wicket at Mohali on the outskirts of Punjab capital Chandigarh has the reputation of being the liveliest in India, which has produced some cracking one-dayers. Interestingly Sri Lanka’s visit here last year was not an inspiring one as they suffered a huge defeat to the hosts.
TEAMS
Bangladesh (from): Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees (vice-captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Sakib Al Hasan, Khaled Masud, Forhad Reza, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafee Bin Mortuza, Syed Rasel, Abdur Razzak and Shahadat Hossain.
Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Upul Tharanga, Tillkaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedara, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralidaran.
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