Dhaka – Bangladesh will start their campaign of the two-match Test series taking on the host Sri Lanka in their first match beginning at Galle International Stadium of the island nation on Tuesday.The match begins at 10:30am (BST).In March 2013, the Galle witnessed the Bangladesh’s highest-ever Test score of 638 runs in an innings against any side and secured the maiden draw against the host Sri Lanka where skipper-cum-wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim sparkled with the bat for a double ton of 200 runs while former national captain Mohammad Ashraful played an innings of 190 and Nasir Hossain hammered another century of 100 runs.UNB agencyBangladesh registered the second draw against Sri Lanka in their 16th Test meeting at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong in February 2014.Since September 2001, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka faced each other for 16 times in the longer version of cricket with Sri Lanka bagging 14 victories.This time the Tigers must aim to enlarge their paws to improve away record showing an impressive form against an under-strength Sri Lanka.The Tigers have recorded just three wins of their 45 away Tests — two against West Indies in July 2009 and one against Zimbabwe in April 2013 — but shown considerable improvement since the last victory in overseas.Bangladesh won four Tests, drawn five and conceded only three defeats since 2014. It has showed impressive recent form against New Zealand and then India in away matches despite losing in both countries.Mushfiqur will play the Tests as a specialist, batsman now slated at number four, giving up his position as the designated wicketkeeper. Liton Kumar Das will take over the wicket-keeping role.Bangladesh will be buoyed with the return of Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm pace bowler who has not played a Test since his debut series against South Africa in 2015.Spin all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, pace bowler Taskin Ahmed and spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz are in the Bangladesh’s bowling force to destroy their opponent batting line on dusty tracks.Besides, Bangladesh batsmen, including captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib, Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah Riyad are more accustomed to Asian tracks with intimate knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions and system.“It’s probably a bit different than the 2013 Test. It’s still a nice wicket to bat on, although I think there’ll be something for the quick in the first two days. The wind might also help them with movement. As the days progress, spin will also come into play,” Mushfiqur said about the Galle pitch.Mushfiqur said at the pre-match press conference that Bangladesh will wait till the last minute on the exact number of fast bowlers. If they go for three specialist spinners in the XI, Taijul Islam is the obvious choice.Replacing Angelo Mathews, an experienced left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will lead a relatively inexperienced Sri Lanka side. The host side won each of its last five Tests on home soil.The Lanka have a solid record at home and blanked Australia 3-0 in the last series it hosted, in August 2016.The second Test of the series starting from March 15 at P Sara Oval in Colombo which will be the Bangladesh’s 100th since it gained full status.Having played their inaugural Test against India in November 2000, Bangladesh will be the last of the ICC full member nation to complete the hundred Test, with little over 16 years to make the mark.The teams are also scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals before facing off in two Twenty20 Internationals to enfold the tour on April 6.Bangladesh XI (probable): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Liton Kumar Das (wicketkeeper), Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam/Subashis Roy, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.Sri Lanka XI (Probable): Dimuth Karuanaratne, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath (captain), Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara.
