Kusal Perera's 'fearless' Sri Lanka arrive in Dhaka

The Sri Lanka cricket team arrived in Dhaka this morning to play three ODIs against Bangladesh later this month. The team arrived by a special flight of Sri Lankan Airlines at around 8am on Sunday morning.

The 18-member squad and support staff went straight to the Pan Pacific Sonargao Hotel where they would stay in quarantine for the next three days. Upon two Covid-19 tests, the players will be allowed to train from Wednesday. 

"We have to play fearless cricket. Can't be playing to protect your place in the side. When you do that you don't give 100 percent. What I am telling the team is to give your best and that will work in crunch situations," Sri Lanka's Kusal Janith Perera told local media after he was appointed captain for the tour.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday sacked one-day captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who led from the front to win the two-match Test series by 1-0 at home recently, and dropped him and a host of other big names from the squad heading for Bangladesh. Two other former skippers -- Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal -- were also dropped along with Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep. Kusal Perera has been named as the new captain, with Kusal Mendis as his deputy.

The visitors will start training from May 19 at the BCB Academy ground in Mirpur. The Sri Lankan team will take part in a practice game on May 21 at the BKSP before facing Bangladesh in the first ODI on May 23. The second and third games are scheduled for May 25 and 28 respectively, with all matches being held under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh selectors have already announced a 23-member preliminary squad for the series. The cricketers will resume training after Eid break on May 18.