🏏 Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #38: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka:🏏

This match is between two teams who will try hard to gain some points so that they will be able to watch other teams struggle to qualify for the semis!!!

🏏 Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #38: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka:🏏

Bangladesh has been ousted from the World Cup as they managed to win a single match out of the seven matches that they played. 

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has won only two matches out of seven games and still has a slight chance to make it to the next stage. 

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both cancelled a practice session each in the build-up to the game because of poor air quality, although Shakib Al Hasan's team did show up at the nets on Saturday. 

The members of the coaching staff all wore masks during the training as the players practiced for about 2 and a half hours. 

On Sunday, however, only eight of the Bangladesh players turned up for practice, as the team did not want to take any risk with those members who are asthmatic.

Coming to the match itself, Sri Lanka are almost single-footed skaters on thin ice. 

While they can still go to eight points if they win their remaining two games, the drubbing they received at the hands of India in their previous game—a 302-run hammering after being bowled out for 55 - has left them with too much catching up to do in terms of net run rate. 

Bangladesh, meanwhile, were the first team to be knocked out of the semifinal race. So this match essentially serves as the battleground for the teams to avoid finishing at the bottom two spots and make the cut for the Champions Trophy.

Tag Credit: Sutapasima

A total of 53 matches have taken place between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the ODI format. Sri Lanka has won 42 matches while Bangladesh has won only 9 matches. Two matches ended with no result. 

Total matches played: 53

Won by Bangladesh: 9

Won by Sri Lanka: 42

Matches ended with no result: 2

Pitch report

Arun Jaitley Stadium’s pitch is batting-friendly and the average first innings total in the last five games here has been 346 runs. In terms of bowling, the pitch tends to support pace bowling (65 per cent) more than spin bowling (35 per cent). 

 Weather update

The weather in the capital city of New Delhi will remain sunny and dry with a thick layer of smog in the air. There is no possibility of rain affecting today’s match. The temperature will oscillate from around 17 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. The wind speed will be around 5-6 km/h during the 50-over clash. 

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka probable playing XI

Bangladesh (BAN): Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

Sri Lanka (SL): Pathum Nissanka, D Karunaratne, K Mendis (C), S Samarawickrama, C Asalanka, A Mathews, Hemantha, M Theekshana, K Rajitha, D Chameera, D Madushanka

Dushan Hemantha was inclueded in the lineup in place of Dhananjaya de Silva, but the legspinner ended up incurring costly outings against. They might consider reintroducing de Silva or go with Dunith Wellalage. A possible substitute for Dimuth Karunaratne is Kusal Perera.

Team News--

Bangladesh

Rahim had an injury scare on the eve of the game, being struck in the hand facing a throwdown. He batted two more deliveries before ending his stint, and later he was seen getting some ice on his hand. But the team management is confident that he will be available for the game. If he is not able to keep wickets, Litton Das can take the gloves. One of Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed could come in, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz might open, if they decide to leave Tanzid Hasan out.

Tactics & strategy

Kusal Mendis has been dismissed twice each by Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib, and Bangladesh might look at concentrating their attack with these three when the Sri Lankan captain is around. Shoriful Islam is a good option against Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera.

Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka is five wickets away from equalling Chaminda Vaas and Muthiah Muralitharan - 23 - for the most wickets by a Sri Lankan in a World Cup. He currently is level with Lasith Malinga at 18. Can Madhushanka achieve this feat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh today? 

Team news

Sri Lanka

Kusal Mendis's team included Dushan Hemantha for Dhananjaya de Silva against India but the legspinner ended up having an expensive outing. They could look at bringing de Silva back or opt for Dunith Wellalage. Kusal Perera is an option in place of Dimuth Karunaratne.

Tactics & strategy

Using Chameera in the middle overs, particularly when Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim are around, could work in Sri Lanka's favour. The pacer has a favourable match-up against them, having dismissed them twice each and the Bangladesh batters have also found run-scoring not too easy against him. The in-form Dilshan Madhushanka also poses a big challenge for Bangladesh who have lost as many as 34 wickets to left-arm pace in 2023, most for any team.

Go SL

Thanks for the tag Madhu.  

May the best team win.

Cheers..

Did you know?

- Teams batting first have won seven of the nine ODIs in Delhi since 2013, and three out of four in this World Cup.

- Of all the venues used for this World Cup, Delhi has the highest economy rate (7.25), and the worst average (43.65) for pacers.

- Shakib Al Hasan has gone wicketless in 13 of the 26 ODI innings he has bowled in against Sri Lanka.

- Bangladesh collectively average 18.87 against pace in the 2023 World Cup, which is the lowest among all teams.

Thank you for the thread and tag 

What they said

"We are trying to minimize our exposure to the outdoors as much as possible because we need to practice as well, as well as that we have to be careful about the long-term effects of this condition. Our doctor has kept a close eye on players. Some of the players didn't turn up for practice as they are asthmatic so they stayed indoors. And even for practice, we're very conscious. We train what we have to train, and they go back into the dressing room. They don't spend time unless they're bowling or batting." -Chandika Hathurusingha, Bangladesh head coach, on the air quality situation.

"We are constantly in touch with our medical team. The person who is in charge is already in India. Actually, he had come for a conference and we are in touch with him (and) the team doctor. And definitely we will be looking at the index, but obviously we will be guided by the ICC and I think they have a medical panel here so they will be giving us instructions. Obviously, today when we came, we were wearing masks, and we were told to wear masks. But it depends exactly what the outside index is." - Mahinda Halangoda, Sri Lanka team manager, on the air-related issues and ramifications.