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Download PDF Under heightened security, there was hardly any buzz in the city about the three-match one-day series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka which starts today but there was no short of excitement in the visitors’ tent ahead of the first game to be held at the P Sara Stadium.
The energetic and youthful Bangladesh side became more confident in the shorter version of the game after their World Cup success and they were desperately looking forward to enter their comfort zone to put aside a disappointing performance in the just concluded Test series.
But the job would remain as tough as it was in the Test series against the World Cup runners-up who are strong enough despite the fact that they will miss the services of spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran and paceman Chaminda Vaas, the attack pair who share 690 wickets between them in the one-day game.
The statistics will also hardly speak in favour of the Tigers when the match starts at 10:30am Bangladesh time with Ten Sports and BTV beaming the match live from Sri Lanka’s oldest Test venue.
The two teams earlier met 19 times in the abridged-version of the game with the Tigers managing a solitary victory — a four-wicket success at Bogra in February 2006 — but most of the times they surrendered meekly.
Even in the World Cup, where Bangladesh were the most talked-about side following victories against India and South Africa, the Tigers suffered a humiliating 198-run defeat courtesy to a hundred from dashing Sanath Jayasuriya, who returns to the side after being rested for the Tests.
Bangladesh team management retained the side that won the lone warm-up match on Wednesday, leaving out uncapped all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad as 12th man. Javed Omar, Mehrab Hossain and Shahadat Hossain were the other players to be left out.
Despite his first-ball duck, Shahriar Nafees will open with hard-hitting Tamim Iqbal, who has the ability to make the difference.
Sri Lanka will finalise their eleven this morning as Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak and Chamara Kapugedera arrived from England only on Tuesday.
The rain can be a threat in the series as heavy shower started yesterday afternoon but the encouraging news is that there are reserve days for every game.
TEAMS
Bangladesh: Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Tushar Imran, Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Shakib Al Hassan, Aftab Ahmed, Mushfiqur Rahim, Forhad Reza, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Syed Rasel and Abdur Razzak.
Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Nuwan Kulasekera and Upul Chandana.
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