A Bangladesh tour with a difference begins today
View(s):The bottom half of the new look Sri Lanka outfit will be out for the first time this morning at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara, taking the field with batsman of much promise, Angelo Perera, who represents the Nondescript Cricket Club in the Premier League tournament, to take on the visiting Bangladesh team.
Since former skipper Mahela Jayawardena stepped down from the captaincy, many a stone has been upturned and thus the scenario has cascaded into a completely fresh-looking outfit, barring the inclusion of former Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, coming out for the first time since his Boxing Day test match Down Under.
For veteran Sangakkara, who previously has scored tons of runs against this opposition, this should be an opportunity to get his run-scoring back on track.
Besides the former skipper, batsmen Ashen Silva and Kithruwan Vithanage, who are also in the Test squad, have been given the opportunity to prove their worth. However one feels that Tharindu Kaushal, the promising off spinner, should have been given a run in this game, However, it seems that he would be given a slot in the Test series to follow.
Angelo Perera the emerging captain
Kaushal is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Premier League tournament. So far he has bagged 31 wickets at 13.22, with four five-wicket hauls in just four matches.
Bangladeshi skipper Mushfiqur Rahim’s woes began even before he left the country’s shores when their best allrounder by far, Shakib Al Hasan, and Shahriar Nafees injured themselves. Besides that they also lost the services of a couple of other players.
However for Bangladesh, who have never won a Test match in Sri Lanka, this is a chance to assess themselves and figure out how the team can gel together under the given circumstances.
The Emerging squad: Angelo Perera (capt), Kithruwan Vithanage (vice capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Ashen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Udara Jayasundera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Ashan Priyanjan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Madushanka, Chaturanga de Silva, Dulanjana Mendis, Ramith Rambukwella, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage.
Bangladesh from: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice captain), Abul Hasan, Anamul Haq, Elias Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Marshall Ayub, Mohammed Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Roibul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Sahahadat Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Tamim Iqbal, Enamul Haque Jnr. Naeem Islam and Shahriar Nafees (SRP)
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