BAN vs SL: Bangladesh Playing XI vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023 - Predicted

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are part of group B in the Asia Cup 2023.

Bangladesh are the most improved side in the 50-overs format. In the last three 50-overs Asia Cup events, Bangladesh played in two finals and are expected to make it big once again in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. They narrowly missed out on the championship on two occasions, in 2012 against Pakistan in the finals and in 2018 against India in the finals. Bangladesh will open their campaign against Sri Lanka at Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy. They are part of group B along with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, and they play their opening game on August 31st.

Bangladesh got two big setbacks before flying to Colombo for the tournament, as their premier opening partner Litton Das was ruled out due to dengue fever and Tamim Iqbal was ruled out due to an injury. Shakib Al Hasan will be taking up the responsibility as leader of the squad. Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Taskin Ahmed will be key players in Bangladesh playing XI for the tournament. Let’s have a look at the possible playing XI of the Bangladesh Tigers that will take on co-host Sri Lanka in Kandy.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI

1. Towhid Hridoy 

As Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal are both out of Asia Cup squad due to fever and injury, respectively, Bangladesh will have to field a new opening combination in the tournament. Towhid Hridoy, in his nine ODI games for Bangladesh, has shown promise and given a glimpse of being an international-level player. Towhid will be opening the innings for Bangladesh.

2. Mohammad Naim 

Along with Towhid Hridoy, left-handed batter Mohammad Naim is set to come out and open the innings for Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2023. Naim has been a prolific run-getter for the team in the shorter format of the game but failed in his first 4 ODI games. Naim has scored only 10 runs in his 3 ODI innings so far. He will be looking to make good use of this opportunity as Litton and Tamim both are out. 

3. Najmul Hossain Shanto 

Bangladesh love to prefer left-handed batters in their top and middle-orders. Najmul Hossain Shanto will take on the responsibility of being the No. 3 batter in Bangladesh lineup. 25-years-old Najmul Hossain Shanto is a left-handed middle-order batsman who has played 12 ODIs for Bangladesh in 2023 and scored 429 runs, including a century and three half-centuries.

4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) 

Bangladesh’s one of the most experienced members in the squad will be taking up roles behind the stumps as well as a crucial number 4 position in the middle-order. Rahim has 50-overs Asia Cup experience under his name, as he has played this tournament from 2008 in Pakistan to 2022 in the UAE. Rahim has played 21 matches in this tournament and scored 699 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries.

5. Shakib Al Hasan (c)

Bangladesh’s reappointed captain, Shakib Al Hasan, holds the X-factor for his national team in big tournaments like Asia Cup. Shakib will be playing as a number 5 batter and also taking up the responsibility as an all-rounder. Shakib has played 13 Asia Cup games in the 50-overs format, scoring 402 runs at an average of 33.50 and picking up 19 wickets.

6. Afif Hossain 

Afif Hossain will be Bangladesh’s number 6 batter and will be playing as a finisher in the batting lineup. Afif is yet to make an impact in the 50-overs format, and the left-handed batter will be looking to make it count not only in the opening encounter against Sri Lanka but also in the entire Asia Cup 2023 campaign. Afif has played 28 ODIs and scored 546 runs.

7. Shamim Hossain 

Spin all-rounder Shamim Hossain is set to make his ODI debut for Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 opener. Shamim Hossain has played 17 T20I games for Bangladesh in his career so far. He is yet to play his first one-day international for the team. Shamim will be used in lower-order batting and can also bowl a few overs.

8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz 

Bangladesh’s leading all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s Asia Cup campaign in 2018. Bangladesh missed out on the championship narrowly after losing to India in the finals in Dubai. Mehidy played six games in the tournament and picked up four wickets. In batting, he ended up scoring 110 runs in six innings. Bangladesh will expect good returns from Mehidy Hasan Miraz in this year’s edition as well.

9. Taskin Ahmed 

Known for his brutal pace and extra bounce, Taskin Ahmed will be leading the charge against batters in Bangladesh pace bowling line-up. A man with experience, Taskin Ahmed remains Bangladesh’s crucial member in the playing XI, along with their top experienced player. Taskin has played 58 ODIs for Bangladesh and picked up 81 wickets.

10. Shoriful Islam 

Shoriful Islam will provide a variation for Bangladesh’s pace attack throughout the entire tournament. 22-years-old Shoriful Islam has played 17 ODI games and picked up 26 wickets in his career so far. Along with Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful will be sharing the new ball attack in the first game against Sri Lanka at Pallekel Stadium in Kandy.

11. Hasan Mahmud 

In the absence of Ebadot Hossain, Bangladesh has another young pace bowler coming into the picture. 23-years-old Hasan Mahmud will be having a go against Sri Lankan batters in Bangladesh’s opening match, along with Taskin and Shoriful. Right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud has played 17 ODIs and picked up 18 wickets in his career so far.

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