After drawing the opening Test, a depleted Bangladesh side will look to overcome their troubles and secure their first-ever series win against Sri Lanka in the longest format.
Sri Lanka have a superior record against Bangladesh. However, after the first Test ended in a tame draw in Chattogram, the hosts will be looking to turn things around. It is easier said than done though, with injuries rampant in the Bangladesh camp.
Bangladesh are missing their four major bowlers. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who picked up six wickets in the first Test, was ruled out with a finger fracture that puts him out of action for four weeks. Joining him is left-arm quick Shoriful Islam, who picked up a right hand injury on the fourth day in Chattogram. Replacements for both players have not yet been announced.
🚨 ICYMI, one of Bangladesh's star performers from the first Test against Sri Lanka has been ruled out for the second game.#WTC23 | #BANvSL | Details 👇https://t.co/hHTHYalDkj
— ICC (@ICC) May 21, 2022
Still missing from action are right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, who continue to recover.
The Lankans, on the other hand, are a confident bunch. Playing their full-strength team and history on their side, they have the firepower to dominate the opposition. However, Bangladesh can take solace from the fact that although their bowling has suffered, their batting unit appears to be in form and raring to go.
Remember the last time
After opting to bat first in the opening Test, Sri Lanka put up a solid 397 in the first innings on the back of a brilliant 199 from Angelo Mathews and crucial fifties from Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal. However, Bangladesh put up an equally spirited fightback, putting up 465 that included hundreds from Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, helping them to a handy 68-run first-innings lead. Sri Lanka added 260/6 in the second innings before the captain shook hands for a draw.
The first #BANvSL Test has ended in a draw. Both teams get 4 points each in #WTC23 🏏
— ICC (@ICC) May 19, 2022
➡️ https://t.co/8eaPOC1Vu9 pic.twitter.com/2nqKJm4lQG
What they said
Mominul Haque (Bangladesh captain): "Batsmen or bowlers, we get good results when we can play as a team. The team gets into a good position whenever we give a collective effort. It will help us in Dhaka."
Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka batter): "Our pacers did better than theirs [in the first Test]. We have a few positives in that aspect. If we are batting first we will try to get 275-300, and then get them out for less than 150 in one innings. It will give us a chance to win."
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