Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to field first in the opening T20 International against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The hosts, already 1-0 and 2-1 victors in the Test and ODI series respectively, are eyeing a clean sweep in the final leg of the tour.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, are desperately hoping to halt a worrying run of T20 form. They have lost 11 of their last 15 matches in the format and face a side that has beaten them in four of their previous six T20Is.
The visitors will be led by Litton Das, who retains the captaincy but finds himself under scrutiny. Das has struggled with the bat, averaging just 18.16 in his last 12 T20Is, and is yet to score a half-century since taking charge two months ago. He was also dropped from the ODI side after the opening game in Colombo.
Sri Lanka are without their star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who misses the series due to a hamstring injury. However, there are intriguing returns to the XI in the form of Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka. Both players have faced criticism in recent months but are back in the frame as Sri Lanka seek to solidify their middle and lower-order options.
Pallekele is expected to offer a good batting surface, and a high-scoring encounter could be on the cards.
Teams:
Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (capt & wk), Naim Sheikh, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzim Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando