Bangladesh Cricket Team. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Bangladesh will be up against Sri Lanka in Match 15 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, on Saturday, June 8. The upcoming clash will be the Bengal Tigers’ first game of the marquee event.

The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side were set to play two warm-up games before the start of the 30-day tournament, but their first warmup game against co-hosts, USA, was abandoned without a bowl being bowled owing to rain. They lost their other warm-up game to India by 60 runs.

Bangladesh’s main concern is the availability of their vice-captain and experienced bowler, Taskin Ahmed. Ahmed was picked in the 15-member squad even though he was recovering from a rib fracture. He was absent from the game versus India in New York. Shanto and Co. will be hopeful their seasoned pacer is fit to play in their opening fixture. Shoriful Islam’s availability is also in question as he walked back to the pavilion after suffering a split injury between the index and middle finger of his left hand while delivering the last over in the warm-up match against India. 

Also check: WC Points Table

Here is the likely Bangladesh XI for their game versus Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup 2024:

Openers: Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar

Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das. (Source -Twitter/X)

Bangladesh will go with their regular openers of Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar for the upcoming clash. Hasan in the warm-up game could manage to score just 17 runs and failed to provide a solid start that was expected of him. 

Accompanying him at the top will be a veteran left-hand batter, Soumya Sarkar. The 31-year-old also appeared out of touch in the warm-up fixture against India, as he walked back to the pavilion following a two-ball-duck. Both Hasan and Sarkar need to pull up their socks in the forthcoming game against Sri Lanka.

Also read: BAN vs SL Match Preview: Head to Head records, pitch report and more

Middle-order: Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Towhid Hridoy

Najmul Hossain Shanto. (Photo Source:SHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will walk into bat at No.3 and will look to put all the previous performances behind his back and play his strokes freely with aggressive intent. In the game against the Men in Blue, he scored just a mere six runs. 

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy will need to shift gears and play according to the situation. Both batters have the role of putting their side in the driver’s seat with their smart batting and big-hitting skills.

All-rounder: Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah

Shakib Al Hassan and Mahmudullah. (Source – Twitter/X)

The Bengal Tigers have picked their most experienced players, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, in the middle order to play the finisher’s role near the conclusion of the innings. Shakib has been part of every T20 World Cup for Bangladesh since its start in 2007. In his last game, he struck a 34-ball 28 but went wicketless. 

Mahmudullah, on the other hand, played well with both the bat and the ball, scoring 40 runs and picking up one wicket. Shanto and Co. will be hoping that these two execute to perform to their fullest potential and produce the necessary results. 

Also read: WC Schedule

Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Tanvir Islam, Rishad Hossain

Mustafizur Rahman ( Source ; X / Twitter )

In the absence of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman will spearhead the pace attack. Rahman has been in amazing form following his performance in the IPL 2024 and the recent series against the USA when he took his career-best figures of 3/10 in the third T20I.

The other bowlers accompanying Rahman will be Tanvir Islam and Rishad Hossain. Both spinners were economical in the warm-up game. Bangladesh, with a combination of veteran and young players, will be hoping for a win.

Predicted Bangladesh XI vs Sri Lanka

Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (WK), Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman