• Match: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Match, Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh 2024
• Date and Time: March 13, 08:00 am GMT / 01:30 pm IST / 02:00 pm local time
• Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

The Bangladeshi cricketers will be eager to bounce back after their disappointment in the T20 series, especially considering they have yet to win a series against Sri Lanka at home. However, a victory in the upcoming ODI series would certainly help alleviate some of that disappointment.

Bangladesh boasts a well-rounded squad with depth and balance in both batting and bowling departments. The return of experienced players like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim will provide a significant morale boost to the team, encouraging them to play with confidence and aggression. Their top order, comprising players like Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, forms a solid foundation that can cause damage if they find form.

Furthermore, the middle order looks strengthened with the presence of Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The bowling unit, featuring a versatile attack with left-arm pacers, right-arm pacers, a leg-spinner, and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, poses a challenge to Sri Lanka’s predominantly right-handed batting lineup.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka, buoyed by their victory in the T20 series, will be aiming to carry that momentum into the ODI series. The controversial time-out decision in the T20 series has intensified the rivalry between the two teams, adding extra motivation for Sri Lanka to perform well.

The return of all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva has bolstered Sri Lanka’s lineup, providing better balance and depth. While injuries have sidelined players like Pathum Nissanka and Matheesha Pathirana, Sri Lanka still has a strong pool of players to choose from.

However, Sri Lanka may need to reassess their opening combination, as the experiment with Avishka Fernando has not yielded desired results. On the bowling front, Nuwan Thushara’s impressive performance in the T20 series suggests he could play a vital role in the ODI squad, particularly against a Bangladesh lineup that struggled to handle him.

Overall, both teams are well-equipped and eager to perform in the upcoming ODI series, setting the stage for an exciting contest between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Liton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmudullah, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.

Who will win the toss? – Bangladesh
Who will win? – Sri Lanka

Captain: Wanindu Hasaranga
Vice-captain: Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Litton Das, Kusal Mendis, Musfiqur Rahim, Pathum Nissanka, Charitha Asalanka, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Angelo Matthews, Shoriful Islam.

It’s challenging to categorically label this pitch as favoring batting second, as historical data from the BPL suggests that chasing has been successful in the majority of matches. In 7 out of 11 instances, teams choosing to chase have come out on top. Therefore, we anticipate that the team winning the toss will likely opt to field first. This decision would enable them to gauge the conditions and potentially gain an advantage by chasing down the target later in the match.

The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram has proven to be a favorable venue for Bangladesh, with a solid track record of 17 wins out of 28 matches played there. This indicates their familiarity and comfort with the conditions at this venue, which could certainly serve as an advantage for them in the upcoming ODI series. Playing on familiar ground often provides teams with a sense of confidence and understanding of the pitch and outfield conditions, allowing them to adapt their strategies accordingly. Therefore, Bangladesh may look to leverage their home advantage to secure positive results in the series.

The pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram is known to be generally favorable to batsmen, although it is not consistently flat like a road. There have been instances, including during the recent BPL 2024 matches, where the scores have varied, indicating some variability in pitch behavior. Additionally, in certain games, the advantage has shifted towards the chasing team due to the impact of dew affecting the conditions later in the match. This variability suggests that teams will need to adapt their strategies based on the specific conditions prevailing during each game at this venue.

• Stadium: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium
• City:  Chattogram
• Capacity:  20, 000
• Ends:  Isphani End, UCB End
• Host to: Bangladesh, Chattogram Division