‘We want to get the basics right’

Bangladesh will be eager to banish their 10-game losing streak across the formats as a busy home schedule kicks off against a relatively inexperienced Sri Lanka team.

The three-match ODI series will also provide a chance for the teams to improve their position in the ICC ODI Super League points table.

For Bangladesh, things have unraveled since a 3-0 ODI series win against the West Indies earlier this year. So, despite having the home advantage and playing their favoured format, the Tigers cannot afford anything fancy against a new-look Lankan side led by Kusal Perera.

"We have an experienced core of players in Mushfiqur [Rahim], [Mahmudullah] Riyad, Tamim [Iqbal] and Shakib [Al Hasan]. But it is always important to give opportunities to younger players. Those players won't be around forever. Hopefully, a guy like Afif can come into the series this time to make an impact," head coach Russell Domingo told a virtual press conference on the eve of the first ODI yesterday.

"We want to get the basics right as a team. If we can do that, we can get in a position when we can try one or two things. We haven't done that in the last couple of games. We did play well against the West Indies at home. With the team's confidence level being down, there's no need to get fancy and complicate things."

There is more than one area that the Tigers will be hoping to improve on. A lack of consistency with the bat from the likes of Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun and Soumya Sarkar and concerns over the fast-bowling and fielding departments all persist, with dropped catches a major reason behind their recent defeats.

The return of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, however, should certainly help the team management form a balanced unit and strengthen the side both with bat and ball.

Shakib will return to his previous number three position and will provide a good balance by adding an extra all-rounder to the playing eleven.

It will be interesting to see if the champion all-rounder and left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman can regain rhythm after neither got enough preparation since returning from the Indian Premier League due to mandatory quarantine.

There was also talk about relatively younger cricketers in the team needing to step up as Bangladesh looks forward to emerging as a better unit ahead of the 2023 ICC World Cup.

"Keeping the points for the ICC ODI  Super League in mind, it will be crucial to grab those. It is tricky. It is a balancing act. Winning right now is always important but we also have to have one eye on the future. Sometimes you need to be a little bit aware of that and not just focus on the past. We have to look forward as well. This is an important series and points are up for grabs. The development of the team going forward is equally important," the South African said.

The will play a vital role and though the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium has traditionally played slow and low, the hosts' team management is hoping for a sporting track.

Weather can also be an issue throughout the three-match ODI series as cyclone Yaas is forming over the Bay of Bengal and may hit India's east coast around May 27. Rain is also in Dhaka forecast over the next few days.

HIGHLIGHTS 

Bangladesh so far played 48 ODIs against Sri Lanka and won only seven matches. Four of those wins came at home.

In their last ODIs in Bangladesh in January 2018, Sri Lanka defeated the Tigers by 10 wickets and 79 runs respectively after suffering a heavy 163-run defeat during the tri-nation tournament. Sri Lanka became champions in the tournament where Zimbabwe were the other team.

A series win could see Bangladesh go on top of the ODI Super League. The Tigers currently sit sixth but only trail top-placed England by 10 points. A 2-1 series win would lift them to 50 points, 10 more than England, Pakistan and Australia, who all have 40 points. 

This is an important series and we know that there are points [for the ODI super league] up for grab. It is a balancing act as performances now are very important, but also the development of the team going forward is equally important. Who knows, in two years' time you might not have Shakib, Tamim, Riyad or Mushfiqur available. And you have got to make sure that you develop some other players who can step into those roles and you have to be careful how you manage that.

Russell Domingo

Bangladesh head coach