Wanindu Hasaranga during Sri Lanka's home series vs ZIM (X.com)
Sri Lanka will launch their all-format tour of Bangladesh with the first T20I of the three-match series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The three-scheduled fixtures serve as a testing ground for both sides in their path towards this year’s T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies.
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Team Previews
Bangladesh
Through the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will be making a return to the T20I lore for the first time since their December 2023 trip to New Zealand.
However, nearly all their players recently participated in the BPL 2024 season to get back into the T20 groove for their forthcoming international season.
Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to lead the side, which features several in-form batters in the form of Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy and Mohammad Naim.
Each of the three aforementioned players minted over 300 runs this BPL 2024 season, with Hridoy finishing at number two on the run-scoring charts with 462 of them.
Shoriful Islam will start as another key member of the side, considering he tallied 22 wickets across 12 BPL 2024 innings, leaving behind Bangladesh legend and series-absentee Shakib Al Hasan in the process.
Sri Lanka
Under the leadership of new captain and charismatic all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka trounced Zimbabwe and Afghanistan with identical 2-1 margins in successive T20I home series earlier this year.
Recent form aside, injury woes continue to plague the Sri Lankan team management, with several in-form players like Pathum Nissanka and Dushmantha Chameera finding themselves out of the entire tour.
Moreover, dynamic batter Kusal Perera has also withdrawn from the T20I series, citing a respiratory infection.
Ace wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who played the last of his 28 T20Is for Sri Lanka back in June 2021, has been added to the squad as his replacement.
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Match Details & Live Streaming
| Date and Time | March 4, 5:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet |
| Live Streaming and Broadcast | Fancode app and website |
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Sylhet Pitch Report
The conditions at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium tend to provide much assistance to spinners, with something on offer for the fast bowlers as well.
The iconic Bangladesh venue has so far staged 10 T20I matches since its inception, with the average first-innings total emerging in the range of 149. The captain winning the toss will likely opt to field first, considering the chasing sides have won nine out of their 10 fixtures here.
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Probable Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Al Islam.
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana.
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Fantoss Fantasy Tips
| Roles | Players |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeepers | Litton Das, Kusal Mendis |
| Batters | Towhid Hridoy, Avishka Fernando, Mohammad Naim |
| All-Rounders | Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahedi Hasan, Angelo Mathews |
| Bowlers | Dilshan Madushanka, Taijul Islam, Maheesh Theekshana |
| Captain | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Vice-Captain | Litton Das |
BAN vs SL, 1st T20I: Winner Prediction
Sri Lanka will start as favourites to upstage hosts Bangladesh in the series-opening first T20I match on the back of their recent form and overall superior head-to-head record.
