Published: Apr 04, 2017, 06:00 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 04, 2017, 11:16 PM (IST)
Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the first T20 International (T20I) between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. After an extremely competitive Test and One-Day International (ODI) series, the two sub-continental nations will look to get off to a winning start in the shortest format. Since this is just a two-match series, the result of the first T20I will be extremely crucial. The test series between these two sides ended in a 1-1 draw. The teams could not be separated even in the ODI series. After a rained out second ODI, the teams yet again had to share the series. They will hope to get a clear result in the T20I series at least. Full Cricket Scorecard: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I at Colombo (RPS)
Both teams have a few inclusions and exclusions from their squad. Mashrafe Mortaza will continue to lead the side despite the fact the ICC sanctioned him for maintaining a slow over-rate in the third ODI. He has been suspended for one ODI, which will be from the Ireland tri-nation series in July. Bangladesh have included young all-rounder Mohamad Saifuddin, who was part of the Bangladesh Under-23 squad during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup. Rubel Hossain and Shuvagata Hom have flown back home, after not getting a single game in the ODI series. Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I at Colombo: Preview
Sri Lanka on the other hand have dropped Kusal Mendis from the T20I squad. Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya believes that the young batsman should not be burdened with too much cricket. Regular skipper Angelo Mathews has failed to recover in time from his calf injury. With Dinesh Chandimal also dropped, Upul Tharanga will continue to lead Sri Lanka in the shortest format as well.
However, Sri Lanka will be boosted by the inclusion of star all-rounder Thisara Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya. Perera was dropped for the T20I series against Australia. Couple of good knocks in the ODI series sealed his place in the squad for this series.
Squads:
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga (c), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera (wk) (subject to fitness), Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Vikum Sanjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sandun Weerakkody (wk) (On stand-by)
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Sanjamul Islam, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin
