Sports Reporter :
The first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka begins today at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The match starts at 10.30am (Bangladesh Standard Time). Private satellite sports channel T Sports and private satellite channel GTV will telecast the match live from the arena.
Sri Lanka won 16 of its 20 cricket Test matches against Bangladesh and lost only once – at Colombo in 2017 – although three of the last eight matches have ended in a draw.
Captain of Bangladesh team Mominul Haque said, ” I don’t feel any pressure. Our team also are not under pressure. We have come here to win the match. We shall try hard to win the match. Sri Lanka are now in good position. We did not perform well in our last two Test matches. There is no benefit to think about the past in cricket. If everything goes well and we perform good in the five days, we shall win the match.”
Though Mominul Haque said they are not under pressure but there is a rumour that BCB will take decision about Head Coach Russell Domingo. Besides, BCB will rethink about the fate of Mominul Haque.
Mominul is not interested to think about those matters.
He said, ” We have come Sri Lanka for just to play. We shall bat and the bowlers will bowl. Then their batsman will bat and our bowlers will bowl and our fielders will do fielding. We shall play according to our plans. I am worried about those matters. I don’t think about those matter, which are not related to the match. As a professional cricketer I think there is no need to think about those topic.”
Head Coach of Sri Lanka Mickey Arthur said, “We have spoken at length about taking that opportunity when it presents itself and applying pressure for long period until the opposition inevitably breaks.”
He said, “We will look to get pitches that do give our pacers some assistance for sure but I believe we have all bases covered and have the ability to have a balanced side with spin as well.”
Meanwhile, The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Tuesday the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the ensuing first Test match. Youngster pacer Shoriful Islam is the only newcomer in the squad.
Bangladesh squad : Mominul Haque (Captain), Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Sadman Islam, Abu Jayed, Taijul Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali and Shoriful Islam.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket announced the 18-member Test squad for upcoming Test against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.
