Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh 2021 News

Bangladesh bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin would miss the third and final ODI even as he has fully recovered from the concussion he suffered during the second ODI played on May 25. His concussion substitute Taskin Ahmed is likely to get a game in his place. Or the coach could experiment with medium pace and better batting abilities of Soumya Sarkar, who is also fully fit now. Bangladesh’s medical unit advised Saifuddin to take a rest as he is the team has already got an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The 24-year-old bowler was hit on the head by a Dushmantha Chameera bouncer in the 48th over of the Bangladesh innings in the second ODI at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. He subsequently got run out trying to run a single on that very ball. The third and final ODI between the two teams would be played today, May 28 at the same venue. The match has a high chance of being abandoned or significantly reduced due to the ongoing Yass cyclone in the Bay of Bengal which has for the last three days wreaked havoc in parts of Bangladesh and adjoining Indian states of Bengal and Orissa.

Bangladesh’s success as a team in winning their maiden ODI series against Sri Lanka has helped layers individually as well. The biggest gainer has been Mehidy Hasan Mirza, jumping three places to reach his career-best ranking of number two in the latest release by the International Cricket Council. Miraz’s figures of four for 30 and three for 28 in the two ODIs so far has been instrumental in the country’s victory alongside Mushfiqur Rahim’s 209 runs including a century. Rahim also reached his career-best batting ranking of 14th, moving four places ahead on the list. Rahim hit his career’s eighth ODI century in the second ODI to add to his unbeaten 84 in the first. Mustafizur Rehman, the left-arm speedster also moved eight places to break into the top 10 of the ODI bowler’s ranking. The 25-year-old has picked up six wickets in the two ODIs, continuing from his great form in the IPL. The Fizz’s best-ever ranking however is five, achieved in 2018. The rankings were compiled by considering the two ODIs between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as the two-match series between Scotland and Netherlands.

Mushiqur Rahim has so far been the hero of the Bangladesh team, taking it out of all difficult circumstances while batting in both the games of their series against Sri Lanka so far. In the second match on May 25 at the Shere Bangla Stadium, the wicket-keeper batsman hit a prolific 125 to take his team to a fighting 246, which at the end seemed way too much for a paltry effort by the Lankan batters. "Like every century, this too is a special innings if the team wins," Rahim said at the post-match press conference in Dhaka. "It contributed to our first ODI series win over Sri Lanka, so it will inspire me to do better in the coming days." The 34-year-old was happy with his innings but wished he utilised all the deliveries. “I am happy with the innings, but we missed out on the last eleven balls, and in a close contest, those 10-20 runs become crucial for us. I want to improve my batting more," he said. Saying that his target was to bat throughout the innings, Rahim added that getting 246 after so much rain disruption wasn’t really bad. “The more important thing was that I was mentally prepared to switch on and switch off due to the weather,” he said. A senior statesman of the team now with more than 70 Tests and 200 ODIs under his belt, the Bogra born believes that youngsters need to raise their hands and perform. His analogy that with seven or eight performers, the team will more often than not come out on top is anything but illogical. "After Tamim and Shakib got out early, there was an opportunity for Liton [Das], Afif [Hossain] and Mosaddek [Hossain], who got a chance. They are trying but they have to be more selective. One has to know when to play a low-risk and when to play high-risk shots on this type of wicket,” Rahim said. "I hope they become more mature, but I'd be pleased if they can quickly take a lesson from here. It makes things difficult when the pressure comes upon us in big matches. If they start contributing, Bangladesh will become a stronger one-day team,” added the former skipper who has so far hit 209 runs in two innings.

Bangladesh took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday in Dhaka after beating the visitors by 103 runs (D/L Method) in a rain-affected match. Sri Lanka were restricted to 141/9 after the match was reduced to 40-over per side chasing 245. Kusal Perera’s side didn’t really begin the proceedings very well but managed to put 71 in 18.2 overs at the cost of three wickets. The visiting side then witnessed a flurry of wickets only to get reduced to 122/9 before ending the match. Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman scalped three wickets each for the hosts while Shakib Al Hasan had a couple of scalps to his name. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka top-scored with 24 off 46. Earlier, batting first, Bangladesh rode on Mushfiqur Rahim’s fine century to manage a score of 246 on the board before getting bundled out 48.1 overs. The home side didn’t have a great start as they lost four early wickets but Rahum and Mahmudullah steadied the ship for the team and stitched a stand of 87 runs for the fifth wicket before Mahmudullah departed for 41. The wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur , on the other side went on to complete his ton. He scored 125 off 127 during the course. Chameera and Sandakan picked up three wickets each for Sri Lanka while Isuru Udana bagged a couple. Bangladesh were forced to make a concussion substitute after Mohammad Saifuddin was hit on his helmet while batting. Taskin Ahmed came in the match as his replacement. The Sri Lankan captain expressed his disappointment on the defeat and put the onus on the middle-order collapse. “It's very disappointing. Both matches, the middle-order collapsed and lack of experience cost us. We need to have a serious talk. They have to back and believe in their strength and play fearless cricket,” Perera said. Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim who was adjudged man of the match said that he was happy to make the vital contribution for the side. “Contributing from the front was great, but I was disappointed not playing the last 11 balls. Mahmudullah batted well and a couple of guys chipped in, and the bowling effort was special tonight. There are areas we can improve. We need to be fearless, but there's a fine line between fearless and sense. Hopefully our batsmen take a few notes from this game and come back better next match, because this isn't the easiest pitch to bat on,” he said. The Bangladesh side low lead the series 2-0 with the the third and final match to be played on Friday at the same venue.

Bangladesh allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin was replaced by Taskin Ahmed who came in as the concussion substitute for Saifuddin during the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Dhaka. “Bangladesh allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin was hit on his helmet while batting in the second ODI. He has shown signs of concussion and for his safety Saifuddin is being substituted on the match by a like for like player Taskin Ahmed,” a statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board said. Saifuddin was hit on the helmet in the 47th over of the Bangladesh innings before getting run out on the same delivery. Batting first, the home side was bowled out for 246 in 48.1 overs. Bangladesh didn’t have a solid start to the proceedings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. T he hosts were struggling at 74/4 when Mushfiqur Rahim was joined by Mahmudullah in the middle and the two stitched a stand of 87 runs for the fifth wicket before Mahmudullah departed for 41. But Rahim continued his form and eventually notched up a century. He scored 125 off 127 during the course. Chameera and Sandakan picked up three wickets each for Sri Lanka while Isuru Udana bagged a couple. Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0 after they defeated Sri Lanka in the first match by 33 runs.

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan confirmed that Russell Domingo, who was made in charge of Bangladesh teams as a coach would get his contract renewed at least till the upcoming T20 World cup. Speaking at a press conference, Hassan was disappointed by the team’s batting in the first ODI, especially with the shot selection of few players. "If we don't renew his contract, we would be needing someone as a backup,” the BCB Prez said. “We don't have any such thoughts in this Covid situation with a World Cup coming up. This is the reality,” he added. Digging deep into the shot selection matter, the 59-year-old administrator further said, “If we ask him [Domingo] why they batted badly, he will point towards their shot selection. What will be my reply? We first have to find out the problem.” Blaming Covid for not having a fruitful conversation with players, he further said, “I can't even sit with the players due to Covid. They don't even allow me into the bio-bubble. What can I do?" Sitting in the Board President’s chair for the last nine years, Hassan criticised the team’s approach to playing Liton Das at the top. He said, "[Liton] can open in T20s, but my personal opinion is that he is better at No. 5 or 6. We have to sit with them. I don't want to force anything on them. I don't do that anymore. I think we will have a solution." Hassan, a parliamentarian further questioned the tour planning of the national team and the lack of practice because of the quarantine. "Is this any type of preparation? He asked listing how Bangladesh played Tests before going to New Zealand and then even before the start of this limited vers series, they played Tests in Sri Lanka. “We played ODIs and T20s in New Zealand after playing Tests. Then we played Tests in Sri Lanka. We are not having our usual procedure of preparation,” he said. The Bangladesh team though won the first ODI comfortably by 33 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka to lead the three-match series 1-0.