Bangladesh aiming high against Sri Lanka

The tourists lost the two-match Test series 1-0 but hit back in the One-Day Internationals, leveling it 1-1. With Sri Lanka fielding a young and inexperienced side for the Twenty20 format, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was looking forward to recording a confidence-boosting victory.

“It is a big opportunity for us to be competitive against them, the number one team in Twenty20s, and push for a win,” Mushfiqur told ESPNcricinfo. “They are without [Kumar] Sangakkara and [Tillekaratne] Dilshan, who have troubled us all tour.”

“They have a quite a young side, but they’re playing at home. They definitely have the potential to do well.”


Sri Lanka’s new Twenty20 captain Dinesh Chandimal admitted there would be immense pressure on his side after the hosts failed to win each series comprehensively.

“Bangladesh won the last match and will be in a good mental state,” said Chandimal. “But our players have got a big chance here and they will hopefully take that opportunity. We never underestimated Bangladesh, because they are an improving side.

“We don’t have the experienced players like Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who played well in the last two series. But I think there are great young players like Dilshan Munaweera and Kusal Perera. This is a great opportunity for the young players.”

Chandimal singled out Nasir Hossain as a threat after the Bangladesh batsman helped his side to a narrow win in the final ODI and hit a ton during the Test series as well.

“Bangladesh’s batsmen have improved a lot from how they were before. Nasir has been the batsman who has batted the best in the ODI series, and he’s been consistent throughout the tour, so we’ve got a plan for him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2013.