NEW DELHI, India: In a clash with pride at stake, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are set to face off in a cricket WC match today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi during a challenging backdrop of ‘severe plus’ pollution levels in the national capital.
Though both teams don’t technically have a shot at making it to the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals, they aim to prove that they are better than their recent performances.
Currently, Sri Lanka finds themselves in the 7th position on the points table with 4 points from 7 matches, while Bangladesh trails in the 9th position with 2 points from the same number of games. This particular match might not have a direct impact on their World Cup prospects, but it presents an opportunity for them to showcase their capabilities and recover lost pride.
The head-to-head record between these two teams reveals that they have contested 53 ODIs, with Sri Lanka emerging victorious in 42 encounters and Bangladesh clinching victory in 9. Additionally, two matches ended without results. In World Cup matches, Sri Lanka has dominated, winning three out of four encounters, with one match ending in a no-result. Notably, the last World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, in 2019, was canceled.
As for the pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, it traditionally favors the batsmen, with boundary scoring being relatively easier. As the game progresses, the pitch tends to dry out, providing spinners with the advantage. However, the pollution levels in the city, marked by a persistently poor Air Quality Index (AQI), raise questions about whether the game will live up to its reputation as a high-scoring one. Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have struggled with their batting, so expectations for a high-scoring encounter might be optimistic.
In the lead-up to the game, there was an injury scare for Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim, who was struck on the hand during a throwdown session. He batted for a couple more deliveries before ending his practice, later seen icing his hand. However, the team management remains confident that he will be available for the game. In case he is unable to keep wickets, Litton Das is ready to take over. Possible changes include introducing Mahedi Hasan or Nasum Ahmed, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz may open if they decide to rest Tanzid Hasan for this crucial match.
Bangladesh Squad
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (c), Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed , Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Sri Lanka Squad
Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Dunith Wellalage.
