Inspired Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka today (Thursday) in their last league match of the 12th Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The match is nothing else but procedure of formality.
The clash begins at 2.00 pm BST (Bangladesh Standard Time).
State-owned television channel Bangladesh Television and private satellite channel Channel 9 both will telecast the match live from the stadium.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh faced Sri Lanka in 30 ODI matches. Of them, Sri Lanka composed wins in 27 clashes while Bangladesh won three matches.
Bangladesh fought back against all the teams of the Asia Cup but ill-fated Bangladesh failed to earn any victory.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka won all the matches to cruise into the final.
Promising Mominul Haque made 51 against Pakistan and scored 50 against Afghanistan. Mominul Haque notched up 60 against Sri Lanka in the third and last ODI in the recently concluded three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is good news for Bangladesh that prolific all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned to the field after three-match ban and Shakib shone with the willow against Pakistan on Tuesday last. He remained unbeaten with 44 playing 28 deliveries.
On the other hand, Thisara Perera hit an unbeaten 80 using just 67 balls against Bangladesh in the first ODI of the three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Besides, dependable batsman Kumr Sangakkara is the highest scorer of the ongoing 12th Asia Cup. He has 246 runs in his account. Ajantha Mendis is the fourth highest wicket taker with seven wickets in his bag.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in their match of the 11th Asia Cup, which was taken place in the country.
Squads:
Bangladesh (possible): Anamul Haque (Wicketkeeper), Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Al-Amin Hossain.
Sri Lanka (possible) : Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (Wicketkeeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (capt), Chaturanga de Silva/Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga.
