SL vs BAN: Sri Lanka Playing XI vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2023, Super Four Match 2 - Predicted

Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the second game of the Super Four of Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday in Colombo.

The Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 started with a game between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Wednesday. Pakistan registered an easy win, and now it is time for the second clash. The defending champions, Sri Lanka, will face Bangladesh on Saturday in R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The weather forecast is not ideal, but fingers are crossed.

Sri Lanka had a rather easy escape in their last group match against Afghanistan, where they pulled off an impressive win by just two runs. It was all a miscalculation by Afghanistan that cost them a Super Four place. But Sri Lanka need to rethink their plans and address the problems they had in the last match. Here we will talk about the predicted XI for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in the Saturday clash.

SL vs BAN: Sri Lanka’s Predicted Playing XI vs Bangladesh

1. Pathum Nissanka:

Pathum Nissanka looked good against Afghanistan in the last game and scored 41 runs off 40 balls, but he couldn't carry on. He is a good player at the top who gives the team some quick starts. His current form in 2023 is also pretty good, and he has already scored two ODI centuries. He scored 14 against Bangladesh last time but will look to add some more runs.

2. Dimuth Karunaratne:

Dimuth Karunaratne played a pretty decent knock of 32 off 35 in the last game but couldn't carry on. But his presence at the top provides Sri Lanka with solidity because he is their most dependent batter and takes the innings deep. Karunaratne is yet to make a big score this edition and will look to do the same on Saturday.

3. Kusal Mendis (WK):

Kusal Mendis is the biggest name in the current batting lineup for Sri Lanka. He was the reason Sri Lanka reached 291 in the last game. Mendis smashed an important 92 off 84 against Afghanistan and is coming off a great run. His record against Bangladesh is also good, and his team will look to him to carry on his good form on Saturday.

4. Sadeera Samarawickrama:

Sadeera Samarawickrama is another in-form batter on the current team. He made a hard-fought 54 runs against Bangladesh when Sri Lanka chased 165 in the group match. He has done it before and will try to do it again. Samarawickrama is an important middle-order batter who can bat well against both spin and pace.

5. Charith Asalanka:

Charith Asalanka struck an unbeaten half-century and made 62 not out when these two teams met last time in the Asia Cup 2023. He ended the chase and took his team home which tells the story of how well he bats against Bangladesh. He will be hoping to play yet another match-winning knock against Bangladesh this time, and yet another game for his team.

6. Dhananjaya de Silva:

Dhananjaya de Silva is the answer to what Shakib Al Hasan brings to Bangladesh. The spin all-rounder dismissed the last two batters of Afghanistan when they needed just three runs to win and helped Sri Lanka win the game. De Silva is also one of their best batters who can play according to the situation. A lot will depend on how he performs.

7. Dunith Wellalage:

Dunith Wellalage is another brilliant all-rounder that has replaced injured Wanindu Hasaranga in the team. 33 not out and two wickets with the ball were what he did against Bangladesh in the last game. So he can deliver another brilliant all-round performance to help Sri Lanka register their first win of the Super Four.

8. Dasun Shanaka (C):

It hasn't been a good tournament for Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka with both the bat and the ball. But we all know about the capabilities of this man. He can tonk the ball very far and can bowl tough overs with the ball. Though Sri Lanka haven't required him so far, he is a proven match-winner for the team.

9. Maheesh Theekshana:

In the absence of Hasaranga, it is Maheesh Theekshana who is leading the charge of the spin attack. He bowls with the new ball, takes wickets, and also restricts the batters from scoring runs in the middle overs. In the last game against Bangladesh, he took 2/19 in 8 overs and can bowl another crucial spell. Bangladesh should make some plans against him, for sure.

10. Kasun Rajitha:

Kasun Rajitha is Sri Lanka's most experienced bowler in the current squad. He was expensive in the last game against Afghanistan but picked up four crucial wickets, which somehow stopped Afghanistan from getting a win. Rajitha is a canny bowler and can take wickets with the old bowl as well. Sri Lanka will hope that he can take some good wickets in the power play.

11. Matheesha Pathirana:

Bangladesh will never forget what Matheesha Pathirana did to them in the last game against Bangladesh. The slingy bowler picked up 4/32 in 7.4 overs and was named Man of the Match. He bowls like Malinga and has variations that can trouble many batters. Pathirana will look to bowl another match-winning spell against Bangladesh to help his team take one step closer to the final.