All or nothing – Sri Lanka face Bangladesh in group decider

Sri Lanka were humiliated by Afghanistan in the tournament opener last Saturday

By Shanuka Aravinda reporting from Dubai

A grudge match is on the cards when Sri Lanka takes on Bangladesh in what is effectively a straight shoot-out to decide the second team from Group B to qualify for the Asia Cup Super 4 round, today (September 1) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium at 7.30 pm.
Those permutations have been further stoked by the verbal back and forth between Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka and Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan – Shanaka stating that Afghanistan’s bowling attack was better than Bangladesh’s, and Hasan replying by saying that they would prove it on the field today.

The Sri Lanka is expected to make two changes to the team which played against Afghanistan. Danushka Gunatileka who came to bat at number 4 in the previous match, and one of Dilshan Madushanka or Matheesha Pathirana, are likely to be dropped from the team.
All-rounder Dananjaya de Silva and Asitha Fernando are said to be taking their places.
"We haven't discussed the changes yet. The final team will be selected after the final training session. There may be some changes in the team. There is a possibility that an all-rounder with the ability to spin the ball will join the team. I think the final result of the match will be determined by the performance of the spinners of both the teams, as the pitch looks fit for spin bowlers,” spin bowling coach Piyal Wijetunga said.

Dananjaya has hit 412 runs in 23 T20 matches claiming 5 wickets and his strike rate is 108.42 with 34.2 as his bowling average. Asitha Fernando has not got a chance to play T20 internationals yet.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have faced each other in 12 T20 international matches out of which Sri Lanka has won eight and Bangladesh has won four.

However during the Nidahas Trophy 2018 Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka two times and Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final.
The two teams met again at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE.

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by five wickets during the match held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium and they have not faced each other for a T20 match since then.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Naim