In preparation for the second Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva spoke about the rivalry between the two cricket teams. He mentioned that their recent T20 series was intense, especially after Sri Lanka won and teased Bangladesh players with a celebration referencing an incident involving Angelo Mathews.
This incident happened during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Mathews was dismissed in a particular way. After Bangladesh won the ODI series, their player Mushfiqur Rahim celebrated by making a gesture with his helmet. In the first Test match, Sri Lanka won convincingly by 328 runs, with de Silva playing a significant role.
In a press conference before the second Test, de Silva talked about his team’s readiness to match Bangladesh’s intensity. He said, “I don’t really know (what the fans will do about this). If they come hard, we will go hard. If they keep calm, we will keep calm.”
Reactions to Shakib Al Hasan’s Return: Insights from Team Members and Coaches
He also commented on the return of Shakib Al Hasan to the Bangladesh team, stating, “Why should I talk about him? He’s not in my team.” Shakib returned after being absent due to injury since November. Shakib has performed well in recent matches, including in the Bangladesh and Dhaka Premier Leagues.
The Bangladesh team is excited to have him back, with assistant coach Nic Pothas praising his energy and experience, saying, “I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate.”
“His energy is very infectious. He has a lot of experience for the guys to learn from and, whenever Shakib is back, he’s a giver.” Pothas also mentioned Shakib’s adaptability to conditions and described him as world-class. However, Shakib has not scored a Test century since 2017, and Bangladesh has never won a Test match against Sri Lanka at home in 11 attempts. To accommodate Shakib in the squad, Towhid Hridoy has been omitted.
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