Bangladesh cricket team reached Sri Lanka Monday for the long-awaited two-match Test series.
The visitors upon reaching Colombo in the morning were under strict protocol, and shifted to the team hotel at Negombo where they will be in three-day room quarantine before being allowed into the training facilities.
Covid-19 test samples were collected twice upon the team’s arrival in the hotel.
All members of the Bangladesh team had tested negative in the first test, as results were delivered within half-an-hour.
Bangladesh Cricket Board director and team director for the tour of Sri Lanka, Khaled Mahmud before leaving Dhaka expressed optimism for a good result from the two Tests which are part of the World Test Championship.
Bangladesh reached Sri Lanka on the back of below-par performances both at home and abroad.
Walton has been named the title sponsor of the two-match Test series between Bangladesh Cricket : The Tigers and hosts Sri Lanka.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Thursday, 8 April 2021
They recently suffered whitewash in the tour of New Zealand in both the ODI and T20 series, and earlier succumbed to defeat in the Test series against West Indies at home.
“Condition in Sri Lanka is different. We know well what to expect there and thus intention will be to give the best in the field. Sri Lanka are a tough opponent at home but we believe there isn’t vast difference in terms of skill between us and them. We need to keep our process to perform well there,” said former Bangladesh captain Mahmud to the media before boarding the flight to Colombo Monday.
If track record in Tests in Sri Lanka are anything to go by, Bangladesh do not have much to boast.
They have played 12 matches in the island nation so far and has won only once.
The only win for Bangladesh came in 2017 in their 100th Test, amid controversies in the dressing room with Chandika Hathurusingha as the head coach.
Bangladesh have lost seven Tests by an innings, and drew once in 2013.
Uncapped pace trio Shoriful Islam, Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Shohidul Islam have been included to the squad while all-rounder Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury has also returned
Posted by Sports Tribune on Friday, 9 April 2021
“Of course we want to win. We at the moment are not thinking of what the result will be. We want to play our best cricket there. The best team on the field will win. It is a five-day game so we will have to take it session by session. We lost the Test in Chittagong (against the Windies in February) despite being in control of the game in the first four days. We do not want to repeat that,” said Mahmud.
Mahmud pressed on the need for performing as an unit for a good result in Sri Lanka, and not to count only on individuals.
“The responsibility is equal for all players. The seniors are not the only responsible ones when you are representing the country. Everyone needs to play well. All our cricketers have the ability. I always speak of playing positive cricket. Having the right attitude is really important,” said Mahmud.
Bangladesh team in Sri Lanka will be allowed to hit the nets from Thursday.
The 21-member squad are scheduled to play a two-day inter-squad game before travelling to Kandy, venue for the two Tests.
The first Test is scheduled to begin on April 21 and the second on April 29.
Both the matches will be played at Pallakele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
