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ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Group D game – Predicted Playing XI, Strengths and Weaknesses
A newly formed Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in cricket needs no introduction. We have now been watching the rivalry getting bigger and bigger year by year. Especially after that infamous ‘Nagin Dance’ celebration incident by a left-arm spinner from Bangladesh, Nazmul Islam, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh will be seen as one of the rivalries in world cricket, just like India-Pakistan and England-Australia. Both teams will lock horns against each other in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group D game. Today, we will see the predicted playing XI of both teams and see the strengths and weaknesses as well.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: How the rivalry begins?
As we said earlier, the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh rivalry needs no introduction. Both the team’s players are aware of this and the fans of both the teams also look to put each other down.
The rivalry started when Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh for a bilateral series. Bangladeshi spinner, Nazmul Islam made his debut in the series and after taking a wicket, he started doing the ‘Nagin Dance’ celebration (also known as snake dance).
Then, the Sri Lankan player copied that style after taking a wicket, which M Rahim didn’t like. Since then, whenever the two teams faced each other in any format on any occasion, we saw some banters, sledding, exchange of words, and some heated moments as well. Not just that, we have seen some unusual moments as well.
In an ICC ODI WC 2023 game, Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka’s batter was given timed out after Bangladesh’s skipper Shakib al Hasan appealed for it. Mathews took a longer time than usual because he forgot his helmet. After the incident happened, a lot of talks took fire regarding the ‘sportsmen spirit’ or ‘sportsmanship’. The incident sparks more sourness between the players of both teams.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: The next chapter in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Now, we will again see Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group D game. They will play on June 07 at Grand Prairie Stadium, in Dallas. The game will start at 7:30 PM local time.
Sri Lanka’s squad:-
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.
Travelling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage
Strengths
Sri Lanka’s bowling looks good for these conditions. They have some very good spinners like captain Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage to control the game in the middle overs. And the kind of pitches we are expecting will suit their spinners.
Not just the spinners, they have M Pathirana who is a very good death bowler for them. His slingy action and good pace always create opportunities to take wickets. And he is very hard to get away in the death overs. Dilshan Madhushanka had a very good ODI WC last year. And they have a few other bowlers as well for these types of pitches.
Weaknesses
Sri Lanka’s batting didn’t look as promising as their bowling. If bowlers need to do well, the batters have to contribute. They cannot rely on their bowlers. Some of the batters are not in-form and the conditions in this T20 WC will challenge the batters more.
Their batting got exposed on a tricky wicket in New York against South Africa. We can give benefit of doubt to SL regarding how the pitch behaves, but their shot selection was equally poor. They need to fix it before going against The Tigers.
Bangladesh squad:-
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Traveling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
Strengths
Bangladesh’s strength is also its bowling unit. Especially their fast bowlers like Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed are well-equipped for the pitches in this WC. Taskin and Mustafizur are very experienced, and Shoriflu has been outstaying off-late, whether ininternationlas or BPL.
Weaknesses
Bangladesh is coming into this tournament with a series loss against the US. It will not be good for their confidence before a big game against SL. Some of their batters are also not firing as they used to. So the form of some of the batters is a concern for them.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI:-
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.
Bangladesh:
Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hasan Shanto (c), Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
↻ T20 World Cup 2024 – Buzz Around The Drop-in Pitches
Conclusion
So this is all about Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh’s upcoming fixture in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Sri Lanka are going into this game after a dismal batting performance. And Bangladesh is already low on confidence after a series defeat against the US and in a warm-up game against India. Both teams will look to make a winning start in the tournament.
FAQs:-
(1) Why is Shoriful Islam not playing the first game against Sri Lanka?
Shoriful sustained six stitches in his left hand during the warm-up game against India.
(2) What are the head-to-head of Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in T20Is?
The two teams have faced each other 16 times in T20Is. Sri Lanka won 11 out of those 16 games, while Bangladesh only managed to win 5.
(3) What are the head-to-head between SL and BAN in ICC T20 WCs?
The two teams have only played once in the T20 WC, and Sri Lanka emerged as a winner in that game by 64 runs.
