Two day practice match

Tigers start tour campaign today

SL new captain thinks it will be a challenging series

While they came to the Sri Lanka for a month-long tour with a high hope of clinching their first ever Test victory at Lankan backyard, Bangladesh might get the taste of how they are prepared to achieve the feat. 

Bangladesh kicks off the tour today with a two-day practice match against a local Sri Lankan team at Tyronne Fernando Stadium at Moratuwa in Colombo, a place just one hour drive away from Galle, where they will play their first Test. 
Of the 16 Test matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, 14 have been won by the former while the other two have been drawn. However, Bangladesh have shown signs of improvement in recent years.
"I would say that this is the best team from Bangladesh that has come here. They beat England as well a few months ago, but their recent form is not that great with defeats to New Zealand and India," Left arm spinner Rangana Herath who was appointed captain after regular skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out due to hamstring injury, told the Cricbuzz. 
"I believe that in Test cricket they have still got work to do. They have improved no doubt, but there's still work to be done. The good thing for them is that they have a very experienced batting line-up. So I believe it will be a challenge for us," Herath added.
When Bangladesh showed a sign of being a force to reckon with in longer version format like the ODI cricket, Sri Lanka has been in a transitional period following the retirement of some senior players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Tilkaratne Dilshan. Con-incidentally the trio scored heavily against Bangladesh. 
The Sri Lankans of late have gone through a tough period, having been whitewashed in the Test and ODI series in South Africa recently. Therefore, the cricket pundits saw a good chance of Bangladesh’s first victory in the Lankan soil even though they whitewashed Australia in a three-match Test series at home some months ago. 
Herath knows, replicating that feat would be tough for them. 
"It wouldn't be easy for us. It will be hard work and we need to get through the tough periods. It's up to the players to do their individual roles and then the result will be fine. The fact that we whitewashed Australia at home is a huge plus for us. That's a massive confidence booster as well. The same Australian team has beaten India by a big margin. We will look back at that effort fondly ahead of the challenge against Bangladesh.”
The Sri Lankan management is yet to announce the team to face off Bangladesh in the practice match but the visitors are focused on to have a solid practice for them regardless of the team they take on. 
Bangladesh however had their first practice session in Sri Lanka yesterday after their training session on Monday was washed out due to rain. The full squad of the team yesterday took part in the practice session as opener Tamim Iqbal joined the side straight from Dubai. 
Tamim, a player of Peshwar Zalmi, was set to play the first qualifier of Pakistan Super League (PSL) against Quetta Gladiators but eventually he didn’t make it. 
Bangladesh will play two Tests at the start of the tour, one at Galle on Sri Lanka's southern coast from March 7-11 and another in the capital Colombo from March 15-19.
The second Test at Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo will be 100th Test match for Bangladesh.
They then play three 50 over internationals before facing off for two Twenty20 matches in the tour, stretching up to April 6.

Two day practice match

Tigers start tour campaign today

SL new captain thinks it will be a challenging series

While they came to the Sri Lanka for a month-long tour with a high hope of clinching their first ever Test victory at Lankan backyard, Bangladesh might get the taste of how they are prepared to achieve the feat. Bangladesh kicks off the tour today with a two-day practice match against a local Sri Lankan team at Tyronne Fernando Stadium at Moratuwa in Colombo, a place just one hour drive away from Galle, where they will play their first Test. Of the 16 Test matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, 14 have been won by the former while the other two have been drawn. However, Bangladesh have shown signs of improvement in recent years. I would say that this is the best team from Bangladesh that has come here. They beat England as well a few months ago, but their recent form is not that great with defeats to New Zealand and India, Left arm spinner Rangana Herath who was appointed captain after regular skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out due to hamstring injury, told the Cricbuzz. I believe that in Test cricket they have still got work to do. They have improved no doubt, but theres still work to be done. The good thing for them is that they have a very experienced batting line-up. So I believe it will be a challenge for us, Herath added. When Bangladesh showed a sign of being a force to reckon with in longer version format like the ODI cricket, Sri Lanka has been in a transitional period following the retirement of some senior players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Tilkaratne Dilshan. Con-incidentally the trio scored heavily against Bangladesh. The Sri Lankans of late have gone through a tough period, having been whitewashed in the Test and ODI series in South Africa recently. Therefore, the cricket pundits saw a good chance of Bangladeshs first victory in the Lankan soil even though they whitewashed Australia in a three-match Test series at home some months ago. Herath knows, replicating that feat would be tough for them. It wouldnt be easy for us. It will be hard work and we need to get through the tough periods. Its up to the players to do their individual roles and then the result will be fine. The fact that we whitewashed Australia at home is a huge plus for us. Thats a massive confidence booster as well. The same Australian team has beaten India by a big margin. We will look back at that effort fondly ahead of the challenge against Bangladesh. The Sri Lankan management is yet to announce the team to face off Bangladesh in the practice match but the visitors are focused on to have a solid practice for them regardless of the team they take on. Bangladesh however had their first practice session in Sri Lanka yesterday after their training session on Monday was washed out due to rain. The full squad of the team yesterday took part in the practice session as opener Tamim Iqbal joined the side straight from Dubai. Tamim, a player of Peshwar Zalmi, was set to play the first qualifier of Pakistan Super League (PSL) against Quetta Gladiators but eventually he didnt make it. Bangladesh will play two Tests at the start of the tour, one at Galle on Sri Lankas southern coast from March 7-11 and another in the capital Colombo from March 15-19. The second Test at Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo will be 100th Test match for Bangladesh. They then play three 50 over internationals before facing off for two Twenty20 matches in the tour, stretching up to April 6.