🏏Asia Cup 2023: M2: SL vs BD Pallekele at 3 PM IST on 31/08/2023🏏

🏏Asia Cup 2023: M2: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

on 31/08/2023 at 3 PM IST🏏

Shakib Al Hasan might not be too keen to read into his team's standing in this Asia Cup but truth be told, performances will matter. There's a World Cup to be played in very similar climes after all but, more importantly, these fixtures kickstart the battle of one-upmanship in what's a very crowded Asian pool. For there's Bangladesh and Afghanistan too now, two nations with very decent ODI outfits who are desperate to make a mark in World Cups and who will secretly know that this edition in India could be their best chance to do that.

This entire interplay is what makes Thursday's clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh a very interesting affair. Sri Lanka might have breezed through the World Cup qualifiers but the challenge they are going to come up against here will be several times over. And having to qualify for a World Cup, especially with their history, comes with its own baggage, something that Bangladesh will be aware of. That they registered their maiden bilateral series win over Sri Lanka the last time they played them will only help their confidence.

That said, Sri Lanka will be taking on Bangladesh at home and that shakes up the dynamic just that little bit. But Dasun Shanaka's side will rue the absence of mainstays in Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madhushanka, all of whom are out with injuries, leaving Sri Lanka to fend with whatever little they have on their plate.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to emerge from the shadows of their veterans, the overdependence on whom has plagued them in the past. Fortunately, there are several young names to stake a claim. Five members from the victorious Under-19 World Cup team have been included in the Asia Cup squad and how Bangladesh allow them to flourish could be crucial to their chances.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Match Details:

Match: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Match 2, Group B, Asia Cup 2023

Date and Time: August 31, 2023, Thursday, 3 PM IST

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Pitch Report

The pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is on the slower side. Run scoring won’t be easy for the batters, who will have to spend some time in the middle before they can start playing their strokes freely.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Weather Forecast

Not the ideal conditions for a game of cricket. There is heavy rain predicted in Pallekele on Thursday, with the temperature expected to be in the mid-20s.

Pitch and conditions

During the LPL, most pitches proved to be quite two-paced, and Pallekele was no different, with bowlers rewarded for varying their pace. On occasion, however, batting did get easier, and better, under lights. In terms of the weather, it's largely expected to be hot and humid and there is a chance of rain.

Team News & Tactics:

Sri Lanka:Struggling with a slew of injuries to several key players, Sri Lanka will need to make adjustments to put a balanced XI on the field. Dushan Hemantha, a legspinning all-rounder, is likely to fill in for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. It's unclear whether Kusal Perera, who is part of the squad but is recovering from Covid-19, is fit to play.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha

Bangladesh: Litton Das is out of Asia Cup with an illness and Anamul Haque has been added as his replacement. He, though, is unlikely yo get a game with Tanzim Tamim and Naim Sheikh set to open. Playing two offspinners is on the table considering there are several left-handed batters in the opposition.

Probable XI: Tanzid Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Nazmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(wk), Mehidy Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman/ Shoriful Islam.

What they said:

"Yes, of course he (Litton) is a big miss as he was part of this team for the last four-five years consistently and he has been playing very well in the last couple of years. Having said that, this will give someone else an opportunity. As for Anamul replacing Litton, it's a like-for-like replacement as both of them are wicket-keepers and bat at the top of the order. We don't have a second wicket-keeper and it is a factor for us because in case something happens to Mushfiq bhai during a game, especially concussion or small injuries and he cannot keep in that game, we need a second wicket-keeper" - Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh captain.

What to expect: Thundershowers are predicted at the start of the match. The playing surfaces at Pallekele often have something for both batters and bowlers, and expect more of the same this time around. The last ODI played here saw Ibrahim Zadran score 162, Rashid Khan pick a four-wicket haul and Kasun Rajitha return 3 for 60.

Stats and trivia

Bangladesh have played just one ODI in Pallekele, against Sri Lanka in 2013, which they won

Sri Lanka have the second-highest win percentage against Bangladesh - 81.63% - in ODI cricket. Only Pakistan have a higher percentage (86.48). However, Sri Lanka have lost four of their last ten games against Bangladesh

In the spotlight

Mehidy Hasan Miraz is still just 25, but it definitely feels like he's been around for ages, and in a sense he has, having made his debut in 2016. While it was his simple yet effective offspin that first caught the attention, it's his more recent exploits with the bat that have earned him a permanent spot. Now a bonafide all-round option coming in lower down the order, Mehidy offers his side a great deal of balance, and his match-winning century against India in December showed his ability to be a genuine gamechanger.

Kusal Mendis didn't have a great LPL, while his performances in the World Cup Qualifier didn't necessarily set the world alight. The past year or two, on the whole, has been a fruitful period for the now 28-year-old, though, especially in T20Is where he has showcased a bolder approach at the top of the order. In ODIs, he has tended to anchor the innings early on before looking to cut loose. As such nearly every formidable Sri Lanka ODI batting performance in recent times has coincided with an in-form Mendis. With a second-string bowling unit to play with, Mendis will be key to any Sri Lankan success.

BATTERS TO WATCH (recent stats)

Pathum Nissanka, SL

10 M • 511 Runs • 63.88 Avg • 90.44 SR

Dimuth Karunaratne, SL

9 M • 477 Runs • 68.14 Avg • 91.2 SR

Mushfiqur Rahim, BAN

10 M • 426 Runs • 71 Avg • 101.67 SR

Najmul Hossain Shanto, BAN

10 M • 371 Runs • 41.22 Avg • 90.7 SR

BOWLERS TO WATCH(recent stats)

Maheesh Theekshana, SL

10 M • 23 Wkts • 4.11 Econ • 19.56 SR

Dasun Shanaka, SL

10 M • 6 Wkts • 5.38 Econ • 29.16 SR

Hasan Mahmud, BAN

7 M • 12 Wkts • 5.21 Econ • 24.08 SR

Ebadot Hossain, BAN

8 M • 11 Wkts • 5.38 Econ • 29.81 SR

Thanks Raji for the thread and for tagging me .

Best wishes to both the teams.