Tigers-Lanka 1st T20I today

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team will take on Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. The match will start at 6:00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). Private satellite sports channel T Sports and private satellite sports channel GTV will telecast the match live from the arena.

Before today’s match, the Tigers and Sri Lanka faced each other in 13 T20I matches. Of them, Bangladesh recorded win in four T20I matches, while Sri Lanka won in nine occasions.

Marking the upcoming T20I match, the trophy unveiling programme of the T20I series was held at the Lakkatura Tea Garden in Sylhet on Sunday. Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto and Captain of Sri Lanka Cricket team Wanindu Hasaranga took part in the trophy unveiling ceremony.

Wanindu Hasaranga will not lead his squad in the first two T20Is as he has been banned for two matches. In absence of him, Charith Asalanka will lead the Lanka squad.

Meanwhile, Jaker Ali will be the replacement of Aliss Al Islam as Aliss Al Islam is injured.

It may be mentioned that it is the first assignment for Najmul Hossain Shanto after he has been named the skipper of the three formats of Bangladesh Cricket team.

After the logo unveiling ceremony, Najmul Hossain Shanto said, ” I think it is the first thing to think about Bangladesh team. When I was captain, I always think how to give input to my team. I hope it will be help me more. I don’t think that the skipper will do everything alone. If all my teammates do their duty properly our target will be done easily.”

After getting the duty as the skipper of all three formats of Bangladesh Cricket team, the captain of the Tigers is grateful to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Shanto said, ” It is very much joyful task for me. I feel pride for me and also my family feel pride. Every cricketers have a dream to skip his country. The BCB has given me chance, so I am thanking them. I am very glad.”

Head Coach of Sri Lanka Cricket team Chris Silverwood took part at the press conference in Sylhet on Sunday. He said, ” The series will be very competitive. Both teams are good. It is history for me that was happened in the past. The T20 World Cup is imminent, so, we have to prepare us.”

Silverwood said, ” I am saying that Sri Lanka are favourites. But both the side have quality. It will be tough task to win the series. We want to present our better brand of cricket.”

Bangladesh T20I squad:Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan and Jaker Ali.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for first two T20Is: Charith Asalanka (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay.