| Bangladesh oozed with confidence to make a winning start as they kick off Asia Cup Super Fours by taking on Sri Lanka at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Saturday, September 20.
The match starts at 8.30pm and will be aired live on T Sports and Nagorik TV.
Bangladesh got a touch of luck in sealing Super Fours that initially looked to be dangled at knife edge.
Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by six wickets to put the pre-match equation to rest, taking Bangladesh to Super 4 along with them.
In case of an Afghan victory, Bangladesh would have made an exit.
Although Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka, they did their part well by edging Afghanistan past by eight runs in their last group fixture.
That victory against Afghanistan, T20 World Cup semi finalist, gave Bangladesh further hope to seal a place in the final and win the Asia Cup trophy that eluded them thrice in the past.
But to stay alive in final race, a victory against Sri Lanka in Super Fours is imperative given that they would start this phase with two points short.
Points obtained in group phase will be carried to Super Fours.
Sri Lanka is a familiar opponent for Bangladesh as they played against them four times in the last two months.
Bangladesh won a three-match series by 2-1 on Sri Lankan soil just two months ago before suffering a six-wicket defeat to the Lankans in the Asia Cup group fixture.
But that didn’t dent their confidence as Jaker Ali Anik said after the defeat and Bangladesh justified it well by delivering against Afghanistan under massive pressure.
Sri Lanka had upper-hand over Bangladesh in overall T20 International record, winning 13 and losing eight in 21 matches.
In Asia Cup, the two sides met 18 times with Sri Lanka winning 15 and losing just three. If only the Asia Cup T20 version is considered, the result is 2-1 in Sri Lanka’s favour.
In first Asia Cup T20 in 2016, Bangladesh won by 23 runs. Sri Lanka took the revenge, beating Bangladesh by two wickets in 2022 T20 format of Asia Cup in which they eventually became champions.
Tomorrow’s game is believed to give Bangladesh some edge as Sri Lanka would have to play two matches under scorching heat in less than 48 hours. Also they would have to drive to Dubai for the match from Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, had four days rest after Afghanistan encounter.
But the thing that would make Bangladesh little concerned that the Dubai pitch won’t play slow and sluggish like Abu Dhabi, that resembled their home pitch. And Bangladesh always have the shortcomings when they play in true and sporting wicket.
Bangladesh: Liton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Patwari, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Saifuddin.
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana and Janith Liyanage.
Source: BSS
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