Over the years, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been part of almost every ICC tournament. Even though the latter saw their emergence in the late 2000s, they have developed a formidable reputation. So their presence in Super 12 this year was expected, but they still had to earn their place. Bangladesh even faced a loss at the hands of Scotland but made their comeback against Oman, saving their spot for the group stages.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s overall performance this year is worrying. The frequent failures at the top order and lack of a reliable name have made quite a scene for the team. But their performance in the group qualifying stage might probably turn the fortunes in their favour. Avishka Fernando getting in the form right before the Super 12s should be positive, which Sri Lankans will take forward.
Bangladesh
In today’s fixture, the balance might be slightly tilted towards the Bangladesh team due to the way they have stayed together this year. The national legend of Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, will again have to up his game to see through this game. However, their ace-Mustafizur Rahman, will be the deciding factor today and for the entirety of the tournament for Bangladesh. The team’s bowling department is one of the more robust packs of the tournament, and they’ll undoubtedly bring their A-game.
What can we look forward to
Both the teams have come across a tough road to Super 12. Sri Lanka has had a poor show in all the formats in recent times and especially in T20Is. But two consecutive wins in the qualifiers must have boosted their confidence, and the heavyweights of the past will indeed look to regain their past glory this tournament, starting with this match.
As for the Bangladesh team, they were always regarded as the giant killers right from their inception at the international level. Even though their campaign started with a loss, they’ll still cherish their place in Super 12 and will try to convert the opportunity to grab their maiden ICC World Cup trophy. Overall, their form has made their case a probable contender for the trophy (11 wins in 19 matches).
The bowling department of both teams will be the game-changer today, considering that the top order for both the groups has been disappointing.