Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are kicking off their new cycle of the World Test Championship with this match.
Medhiy Hasan Miraz is not playing this match due to illness. Bangladesh to field four bowlers— Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana.
Sri Lanka have two debutants- top-order bat Lahiru Udara and ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake- in this match. Tharindu Rathnayake has over 330 wickets in First-class cricket in just 73 matches. He has 26 five-fors as well.
In the last cycle of the WTC, Sri Lanka narrowly missed a chance to qualify to the final. But this time, they are determined to prove their mettle to be one of the best Test teams in the world.
In contrast, Bangladesh also demonstrated its potential in the last cycle. But they missed key chances to be at a better position. This time, they are also intended to begin the new cycle on a positive note.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Nayeem Hasan.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Milan Ratnayake, Tharindu Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, reports UNB.