All You Need To Know About Sri Lanka’s Tour of Bangladesh – Venues, Squads, Where To Watch, And More

The T20I series ended with Sri Lanka winning 2-1. It produced a number of compelling results from players on both sides. Kusal Mendis finished as the top run scorer in the series, hitting 181 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 160.17. 

For Bangladesh, new all-format captain Najmul Hossain Shanto topped the run charts with 74 runs in three innings, while rookie Jake Ali had a wonderful early initiation into international cricket. His cameo nearly helped Bangladesh pull off a heist in a tall 200-plus chase in the first T20I.

Nuwan Thushara, who only played the third T20I after replacing the injured Matheesha Pathirana, finished as the leading wicket-taker. His five wickets, including a hat-trick, helped Sri Lanka seal a series win. Taskin Ahmed was Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the series with four scalps.

Sylhet played hosts to the T20I series. A venue reminiscent of Trent Bridge in Nottingham for its style of construction, it’s conducive to swing and seam more than in any other part of Bangladesh. Also, there’s a tendency for the ball to fly at this venue owing to a higher altitude. The venue also offers a picturesque setting, located between Sylhet’s tea plantations. The port town of Chattogram hosts the three ODIs, while Sylhet and Chattogram host one Test apiece to conclude the tour.

Bangladesh have named Shanto as their all-format leader for the next 12 months. It’s a move that has come about because Shakib Al Hasan isn’t available due to an eye condition he has had to contend with for close to six months now. 

Sri Lanka were to be led by Wanindu Hasaranga for the T20Is, but he missed the first two games to serve out an ICC ban for breaching the code of conduct—he criticised a match official in public at a press conference during the home series against Afghanistan. In Hasaranga’s absence, Sri Lanka were led by all-rounder Charith Asalanka.

Hasaranga returned to lead Sri Lanka in the series finale and starred with the ball, picking up two crucial wickets as Sri Lanka defended 165 to seal the series.

The glaring omission for Bangladesh in the T20I squad was Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was previously vice-captain. Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Rony Talukdar were also left out. There were call-ups for Animal Hague Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Mahmudullah, Taijul Islam and Taskin. Bangladesh also deviated from their template a bit by inducting mystery spinner Aliss Al Alam into the mix on the back of an excellent BPL season for the Comilla Victorians.

Bangladesh T20I squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Litton Das, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Aliss Al Islam

Bangladesh ODI squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Anamul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka have been without the services of Kusal Perera for the T20Is after he was ruled out due to a respiratory infection. In his place, Niroshan Dickwella got a look-in after a year in the wilderness.

In the ODI set-up, fast bowler Lahiru Kumar was called up after Asita Fernando was ruled out due to an injury. Pathum Nissanka returns after missing the T20Is due to injury. 

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain for third T20I), Charith Asalanka (captain for first two T20Is), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (zapt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Kamindu Mendis, Akila Dhananjaya, Sahan Arachchige, Chamika Karunaratne