Bangladesh seek an improved performance in a bid to bounce back into the winning way as they will gear up for a three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka, report agencies.
The first T20 will be held today (Thursday) at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. The match will start at 7:30pm (Bangladesh Time).
Bangladesh lost the preceding two-match Test series 1-0 and three-match ODI series 2-1. Liton Das who was not part of the last two matches of the ODI series, following his lean batting patch, will lead the side in T20s.
They are also currently on a five-match losing streak in T20 format. After sweeping a three-match T20 series against the West Indies on the Caribbean at the end of the last year, Bangladesh are expected to be consistent in this format.
But they tasted a shocking 2-1 defeat to UAE in May which was followed by a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Pakistan just a week later.
Bangladeshi batters' power-hitting skill was always questionable and it was widely exposed against ICC associate nation UAE.
Since then the cricketers were seen working on power-hitting skill in different training sessions.
But ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said that building partnerships is also a key to grab the momentum in any format of cricket.
According to him, Bangladesh suffered defeat in the ODI series due to their lack ability to form big partnership.
"We are getting out soon after getting set," Miraz said. "We can't keep the momentum for too long. We have to work on it. It is imperative for any format of cricket."
"When I was batting with Hridoy today, we nearly grabbed the momentum (in the third ODI). Then I got out. Momentum is required for a partnership. Strike rotation is important in a partnership."
Bangladesh, however, had several memorable occasions against Sri Lanka in T20 format, although they lost 11 and won six in 17 meetings.
Their highest score (215-5) in T20 format came against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2018. What made the occasion more memorable was that they chased down Sri Lanka's 214-6 successfully with Mushfiqur Rahim smashing 35-ball 72 not out.
Bangladesh went past 200 plus total in T20 cricket only seven times, two of which came against Sri Lanka.
The visitors will get the full strength pace attack in the series with Taskin Ahmed and Muatfizur Rahman returning to the side after missing series against UAE and Pakistan (Mustafizur though only played the first T20 against UAE before joining to IPL).
Bangladesh's pace attack, led by rejuvenated Taskin, did their job impeccably over the last three years, but their efforts were often undermined by inconsistent batting.
Bangladesh selectors also recalled pace-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin and batter Naim Sheikh in the squad.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on Thursday (July 10), with a hamstring injury.
Hasaranga sustained the hamstring injury on his right leg while batting during the final ODI against the visitors in the just concluded three-match series that the hosts won by a 2-1 margin.
Captain Charith Asalanka confirmed that Jeffrey Vandersay will replace Hasaranga in the squad for the three-match series. "He( Hasaranga) will be a huge loss for us. He is our superstar in white-ball cricket," Asalanka said on Wednesday.
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