Bangladesh take on Sri Lanka in first Test today
Bangladesh will take on Sri Lankan in the first Test of Rocket two-match Test series scheduled to begin today at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
The match kicks off at 9.30 am.
After losing the triangular series against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh must aim to fight back in the Test without their most influential player and newly appointed Test captain Shakib Al Hasan, who has been ruled out of the first Test.
Shakib sustained an injury in his left hand during the tri-series final against Sri Lanka and was forced to leave the field. Mahmudullah Riyad was handed the captaincy following Shakib's Al Hasan's unavailability for the first.
Mahmudullah was an obvious choice for the captaincy job since he was the one who was appointed as Shakib Al Hasan's vice-captain when the all-rounder was made captain of the Test side.
However, Mahmudullah prior to the pre match press conference said he did not want leadership like this way as Shakib Al Hasan is very important player for them. It's big loss and a disaster for the team. It's also a damaging for the team for missing the service of Shakib. The all-rounder is hopeful that he is up to the challenge and being captain it's also a good opportunity for him and more importantly, it is a crucial series for the Tigers after their shocking triangular series defeat to Sri Lanka.
Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was recalled after over three years to the Bangladesh Test side as additional cover for the injured Shakib Al Hasan.
The recall could have been on the back of Razzak recently becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 500 first-class wickets, leading this season's wicket-takers' list with 40 scalps in nine matches. As a result, the 35-year-old has been drafted in despite having a modest Test record where he has picked up 23 wickets in 12 Tests.
On the other hand, Sri Lankan, after their winning the recently concluded tri series, are quite motivated ahead of the first Test and the morally high Sri Lanka must be want to carry out their performance in the Test series.
Squad for first Test: Mahmudullah (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamrul Islam, Mehidy Hassan, Rubel Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Sunzamul Islam, Tanbir Hayder, Abdur Razzak.
Sri Lanka : Dimuth Karunaratne, Dilruwan Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Kusal Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara, Danushka Gunathilaka.
Source: BSS
