DHAKA: After proving equal to each other in the longest (tests) and shorter (ODIs) versions of cricket, Bengal Tigers and Lankan lions will now tussle for supremacy in two-match T20 series from Tuesday (4 April) at R Premadasa Stadium Colombo. The matches of the two evenly matched sides promise of mouthwatering contests.

The squads have been announced with not much surprise except Rubel and Nasir being ignored again. Perhaps, selectors had little choice. Sri Lanka brought back veteran Lasith Malinga and included junior Jayasuriya.

Bangladesh

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Sunzamul Islam, Subashis Roy, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin

Sri Lanka

Upul Tharanga (C), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera (subject to fitness), Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Vikum Sanjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya

Bangladesh in T20 is not yet a team of proven creditability although BCB prefers T20 much more than any other format even in the domestic circuit. Bangladesh is at 10th with 72 ranking points and Sri Lanka 8th in ICC Ranking with 101 points.

We do not adore T20 format as being ardent followers of test cricket, the ultimate frontier of cricket. To us, ODI is acceptable for spreading cricket universally. According to us advent of T20 has made cricket too much a commercial commodity. Betting and match fixing type mania have intruded taking away a lot of beauty and romanticism of the beautiful game. Still, for the gloss and glamor T20 are being played and the crowd more and less have accepted it as here is the money. People, these days, can spare three to four hours watching white ball cricket played in colors other than the traditional whites.

Bangladesh also arranges BPL, like KFC Big bash, PCL, IPL, and CPL, where top players from around the world participate. But in bilateral series and international level, Bangladesh could not achieve much success yet. Even, ICC associate Afghanistan ranks above Bangladesh.

ICC Ranking in T20 (2 April 2017) 

Serial     Country        Matches        Rating
  1          New Zealand     25             127
  2          India                  31             124
  3          South Africa      29             117
  4          Pakistan            38             116
  5          England             26             114
  6          West Indies       26             112
  7          Australia            24             110
  8          Sri Lanka           34             101
  9          Afghanistan       37               84
10          Bangladesh       28               72

Bangladesh with several impact players like Mustafiz, Shakib, Tamim and Soumya is expected to provide a good account of themselves in the two matches. I would rather look forward to Mehedi Miraz, Mosaddek and new boy Saifuddin changing the luck of Bangladesh in T20.

Bangladesh have lost the winning momentum losing the last ODI at SCC. But, nevertheless, the team can bounce back. Selecting the playing XI will be a huge challenge. Tamim and Soumya will be an automatic choice as openers. Given the quality and competence, Mosaddek deserves to bat at number three though team management would be tempted to stay with Sabbir. He would be better slotted at six or seven for quick firing in slog overs. Shakib should bat at four with Mushfique and Mahmudullah following. Miraz after his matured performance with batting, bowling and fielding will be an automatic choice. Moreover, Sri Lankans have too many left handed batsmen. It is to be seen who joins Mashrafe and Mustafiz as the third seamer. We hope Saifuddin will be the better choice than Taskin for T20. That lad looked impressive in the emerging cup. He played well in BPL too.

Sri Lanka is a much stronger T20 side with impact player Malinga back in the fold. The pace attack will be much better with Malinga, Thisara and Kulasekara. We are not sure ignoring inform Mendis is a right choice.

T20 is a match won by one or two players in one or two overs. The ace of Bangladesh is still Mustafiz. If Bangladesh can put up a decent 170-180 runs, the multi-faceted bowling attack can win them matches.

But, overall, the teams are evenly matched. The team which can hold nerves and produce their A game would win.

BDST: 1011 HRS, APR 03, 2017
SR