Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first in the three-match ODI series opener against Bangladesh in Colombo on Friday.
Bangladesh have brought back Shafiul Islam in the playing XI after three years. To accommodate him, the team management overlooked Taskin Ahmed, who made the squad due to the injury of Masrhafe Bin Mortaza. Mahmudullah Riyad was also included despite not being fully fit, says a UNB report.
It is a special match for Lasith Malinga and the Sri Lankan fans as the right-arm pacer is set to bid farewell to ODI cricket after this game.
Both teams were scheduled to face each other in the World Cup at Bristol. But the match was washed out due to rain. So their last battle was in the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai where Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 137 runs.
The match is still memorable for the heroic of Tamim Iqbal who had left the field after receiving a blow to his right wrist but returned after the ninth wicket fell.
Tamim is leading Bangladesh in this series in the absence of Mashrafe, the regular ODI captain who was dropped due to a hamstring injury.
Along with Mashrafe, Bangladesh will miss the service of their premium all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is out of action for personal reasons. Liton Das, the top-order batsman, is also on leave due to the same reason.
Bangladesh playing XI: Tamim Iqbal(c), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka playing XI: Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga
