Asia Cup 2022: SL vs BAN Preview – Race for a spot in Super 4 heats up

Bangladesh will be locking horns with Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, August 31. This is a must-win encounter for both sides as they lost their opening encounters of the tournament and find themselves on the brink of elimination.

Sri Lanka were ordinary in the Asia Cup 2022 curtain-raiser against Afghanistan in all three departments. The batting failed miserably as the five-time champions were restricted to a paltry 105 and the bowlers bowled their hearts out, but were completely helpless as they hardly had anything on the board to defend. The loss has put Sri Lanka in a do-or-die situation against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s strategy of batting first on the Sharjah wicket backfired as the top-order could not pick mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and lost half their side in no time. Mahmudullah Riyad (25) and an unbeaten 31-ball 48 from Mosaddek Hossain helped them in posting a respectable total of 127/7. The Afghans in reply lost three important wickets, but the target was not an intimidating one and they eventually crossed the finish line in the penultimate over.

Asia Cup 2022 SL vs BAN Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka have everything to play for in this virtual knockout fixture and just like Bangladesh, even they would not be looking to make any changes to their playing XI.

Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana

Bangladesh:

Bangladesh might not be interested in making changes to their playing XI.

Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman