Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the first Test match against Sri Lanka. They will play the first Test in Pallekele from April 21. Mominul Haque will lead the team, and Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will miss the match as they are playing in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
Tamim Iqbal remained in the squad. He played both the Tests against West Indies recently. It was Bangladesh’s home series against West Indies. The players like Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Taijul Islam are also in the squad. They will play crucial roles for Bangladesh. In their series against West Indies, they suffered humiliating defeats at their own home.
Sri Lanka lost their home against England at the former’s home. But the Lankans fared in the series against West Indies in the latter’s backyard. They drew the Test series in Antigua. Bangladesh were scheduled to play the series against Sri Lanka in July last year. But the series got postponed amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The boards sketched the series in the October-November window; however, the Tigers were not ready to be quarantined for 14 days.
The teams will engage in two Tests and both will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The first Test will be played from 21st April to 25th April and the second Test between 29th April to 3rd May.
The last time Bangladesh went to Sri Lanka was in 2017. The series ended 1-1. Sri Lanka won the first Test while Bangladesh bagged the second one. Shakib’s century and four-for helped Bangladesh to level the series.
Bangladesh Squad for 1st Test against Sri Lanka:
Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shadman Islam, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rah, Taijul Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam.