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Domingo reluctant to play ‘unfit’ Shakib
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who recovered from Covid, is set to join the home team to play first Test against Sri Lanka beginning on Sunday.
Shakib has tested negative less than a week after being tested positive.
However, Russell Domingo, the head coach of Bangladesh, said he is not willing to include an unfit Shakib.
“Coming straight into a Test match (is tough),” he said on Friday while addressing the media in Chattogram. “We need to check his fitness and assess where he is. He has just come off Covid, and he hasn’t played much cricket. He’s obviously a big player for us, and balances the team. But we need to see how he is tomorrow. He hasn’t batted or bowled for the last two or three weeks. It is five days of cricket. It is hot (here in Chattogram). There are all sorts of things to consider.”
Read: Covid-negative Shakib 'available for first Test vs Sri Lanka'
This series is a part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC World Test Championship where Bangladesh played six matches and won only one against New Zealand earlier this year. Bangladesh failed to impress in the previous cycle, so they are eager to prove their Test expertise in this series.
The pressure is high after their 2-0 defeat in the last series against South Africa which brought a question to the fore— Is Bangladesh’s win in New Zealand a fluke? The Bangladesh team has to come up with an answer, and the SriLanka series is a perfect chance for them.
And Shakib could play a pivotal role in this challenge, though, the head coach said: “Anybody would want a fully fit Shakib in your best XI. It is very difficult to play if he is 50-60 fit.”
If Bangladesh want to make this series a successful outing, they have to prove that they are capable enough to take all 20 wickets of Sri Lanka who are equipped with some seasoned performers like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Bangladesh coach said he is confident with his bowling attack.
“I just told the bowlers this morning that we got 36 wickets in two Tests in South Africa. I don’t think Bangladesh has got that many wickets (in a series),” Domingo said. “We are confident that we can take 20 wickets. We need to have five bowling options. We have been short in that particular department when Shakib doesn’t play. Someone who can bowl those 12-13 overs a day, which is so important.”
Read: NZ cricket great McCullum hired to coach England’s test team
If Bangladesh has to play without Shakib in Chattogram, Mosaddek Hossian Saikat might be an alternative to the left-handed allrounder as Domingo wants someone who can bowl a few overs when the team needs.
“He is definitely in consideration to play if Shakib is not playing,” Domingo said when he was asked if he considers Mosaddek as an alternative to Shakib.
“I think we need to consider someone who can bowl. Yasir (Ali) has played some really good innings for us, but we need to find someone who can bowl 10-15 overs. I am not sure if Mominul is confident of bowling 10-15 overs. (Nazmul Hossain) Shanto is not quite there to bowl 6-7 overs a day. We need to find that person when Shakib is not there. When he is there, it’s easy. But he has not been there much.”
Covid-negative Shakib 'available for first Test vs Sri Lanka'
Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has tested negative for Covid, three days after he was diagnosed with the disease, Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), said on Friday.
The all-rounder is expected to join the team soon, and he is available for the first of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. However, it's not clear if Shakib will play the first Test.
“It's not easy to recover from Covid-19 quickly,” Nazmul Hasan, the BCB president, told the media in Chattogram on his way to Cox's Bazar. “It's up to Shakib if he can play the first Test. It would have been easy for him if it was an ODI or a T20 match."
READ: Shakib tests positive for Covid-19
The first Test will commence on May 15 in Chattogram while the second and final Test of the series will take place in Dhaka from May 23.
This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh played six matches in this event and won only one against New Zealand earlier this year.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings maintain winning streak
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings strengthened their hold on top spot in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football after beating Bangladesh Police FC 2-1 Thursday in Rajshahi.
At the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium, Brazilian midfielder Miguel scored both goals for the Kings in the 12th and 30th minutes. His compatriot defender Danilo Augusto pulled one back for Police FC in the 80th minute from a penalty.
Read: BPL: 6-goal thriller ends even between Ctg Abahani, Dhk Mohammedan
In the day's other match, six times champions Dhaka Abahani slipped up in the title race after playing out a 1-1 draw with former champions Sheikh Russel KC at the Sylhet District Stadium.
Mehedi Hasan put Abahani ahead in the 34th minute while Dipok netted one for Sheikh Russel in the stoppage time of the match (95th minute).
Manik of Sheikh Russel KC received a red card in the 80th minute and was sent off.
At the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, three times champions Sheikh Jamal DC beat Rahmatganj MFS 1-0. Nigerian striker Musa Tachi scored the winning goal in the 6th minute.
Read: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Abahani win; Sheikh Jamal taste first defeat in BPL
At the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla, Saif SC outplayed Dhaka Mohammedan SC 3-1.
Asror Gafurov, Mfon Sunday and Emeka Ogbugh scored one each for Saif SC in the 18th, 23rd and 80th minutes while Jafar Iqbal scored a consolation goal for Mohammedan in the 81st minute.
After the day's 15th round matches, Bashundhara Kings consolidated top spot on the table, securing 38 points, second-placed Dhaka Abahani collected 32 points, third-placed Sheikh Jamal 30 points and fourth-placed Saif SC 27 points.
Asian Games Hockey: Bangladesh emerge group champions to reach semis beating Singapore 1-0
Bangladesh emerged Pool B champions with all-win record to reach the semifinal of the Asian Games Men's Hockey Qualifier beating Singapore by 1-0 in their last group match at Queen Sirkit Commemorative Stadium in the Thai capital Bangkok on Thursday.
Bangladesh will play the 2nd semifinal on Saturday (May 14) against Pool A runners up and hosts Thailand while Pool A champions Oman will play Indonesia in the first semis on the same day.
In the day's last group match, Rakibul Hasan Rocky scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 2nd quarter of the match (1-0).
Read: Women's Chess: Sharmin Sultana Shirin of Ansar emerges champion
Singapore got a penalty stroke in the match but failed to convert it.
Earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the Asian Games Hockey'2022 main battle after beating Indonesia and Sri Lanka by 3-1 goal each in first two group matches.
On completion of the Asian Games qualifier, Bangladesh team led by new captain Khorshedur Rahman will travel to Indonesia directly from Thailand to compete in the Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1.
In the eight- nation Hero Men's Asia Cup Hockey, Bangladesh team also been placed in Pool B with Malaysia, Korea and Oman.
Read: Asia Cup Archery: Bangladesh gets silver medals losing to India in finals
Bangladesh will face Korea on May 23, Oman on May 24 and Malaysia on May 26.
Earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the Hero Men’s Asia Cup Hockey by clinching the Men's AHF Cup Hockey title for the fourth consecutive times in Jakarta in March.
NZ cricket great McCullum hired to coach England’s test team
New Zealand cricket great Brendon McCullum was hired as head coach of England’s test team on Thursday in another bold appointment coming soon after the decision to select allrounder Ben Stokes as captain.
The 40-year-old McCullum, who currently coaches Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, has never been in charge of a test team and only retired from playing in 2019.
He was regarded as the catalyst behind New Zealand’s emergence as a major force in the test game — the Black Caps won the inaugural world test championship last year — and his preference for attacking cricket will be welcomed by Stokes at the start of a new era for England.
Read: Galleries open for all Bangladesh- Sri Lanka Tests
“I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes — a formidable coach and captain partnership,” said Rob Key, director of men’s cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board. “Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride.”
McCullum’s first series with England will be against his native New Zealand in June, with the opening test beginning June 2 at Lord’s.
England has won only one of its last 17 tests, a run that includes a humiliating 4-0 series loss in the Ashes Down Under. That sparked a rush of dismissals and resignations — at one stage, England didn’t have a captain, coach or head of men’s cricket — but the leadership roles have been filled now, with Stokes replacing Joe Root as captain and Key the replacement for Ashley Giles.
Read: Reminiscence: Five Top Performances by Bangladesh Bowlers in Tests against Sri Lanka
“He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments for the better,” Key said of McCullum, “and I believe he is the person to do that for England’s red-ball cricket.”
McCullum takes the position previously held by Chris Silverwood, who oversaw the test and limited-overs teams. The ECB has decided the red-ball and white-ball duties should be split going forward.
“In taking this role on, I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present,” McCullum said, “and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we’ve confronted them head-on.
“I’ve enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious. I’m no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can’t wait to get started.”
McCullum described Stokes as “the perfect character to inspire change around him.”
“I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us,” McCullum said.
McCullum will travel to England after the Knight Riders complete their IPL group campaign on May 18, subject to obtaining a working visa.
Galleries open for all Bangladesh- Sri Lanka Tests
After a prolonged Covid-19 hiatus, galleries for the cricket series in Bangladesh have finally opened for all from the Test series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka starting May 15 in Chattogram.
While announcing the title sponsor for the mentioned series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that 100 per cent of the capacity of Zahur Ahmed Stadium, the venue for the first Test, will be open for the spectators.
“The Covid-19 situation is largely under control in Bangladesh. So the galleries in this series will be open for all,” Tanvir Ahmed, the chairman of the media department of BCB, told the reporters on Thursday.
However, the spectators will have to maintain specific protocols set up by the World Health Organization to stop the spread of the virus, Tanvir added.
The tickets for the western stand in Chattogram will cost BDT 50, while the tickets for the eastern, clubhouse, international stand, roof-top and grandstand will cost BDT 100, 200, 300 and 500 respectively. In the second Test the tickets will cost BDT 50 for eastern, southern, and northern galleries, while tickets for the clubhouse, VIP stand and grandstand will cost BDT 100, 200 and 500.
While the first Test is from May 15, the second and final Test of the series will be played from May 23 in Dhaka.
This series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh played six matches in this event so far and won only one against New Zealand. However, they lost the other five matches.
Reminiscence: Five Top Performances by Bangladesh Bowlers in Tests against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh have played a total of 22 Test matches against Sri Lanka since the two teams first met in September 2001. There were some remarkable individual performances despite the fact that Bangladesh have only won one Test match against Sri Lanka. Since both teams played in subcontinent conditions, spinners have dominated the top bowling performances leaderboard. Let's take a look at five of Bangladesh's top Test bowling performances against Sri Lanka so far, ahead of the BAN vs SL series 2022.
Best Test Bowling Performances by Bangladesh Players against Sri Lanka
Here are five notable bowling efforts by Bangladeshi players in Tests against Sri Lanka.
5) Mohammad Rafique: 5/114 (R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, 2005)
The first Bangladesh bowler who picked a fifer against Sri Lanka in the Test format was Mohammad Rafique. The left-arm spinner was one of the most sought-after players in Bangladesh in early 2000. Rafique bagged a fifer in Sri Lanka’s first innings of the first Test in 2005 before the hosts declared their innings on 370/9d.
Read: Cricket Australia: Sri Lanka tour still on despite unrest
He finished his spell with 37-9-114-5. Bangladesh went on to lose the contest by an innings margin because of their disappointing batting performances in both innings.
4) Shahadat Hossain: 5/86 (Shaheed Chandu Stadium, Bogra, 2006)
One of Bangladesh's fastest bowlers in the early 2000s was Shahadat Hossain. He has the most five-wicket haul (4) in an innings for Bangladesh among the pacers. One of his fifers came against Sri Lanka back in the 2006 home series.
Shahadat picked up five wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings of the second Test at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. His final bowling figure stood at 21.3-2-86-5. In their first innings, Bangladesh bowled Sri Lanka out for 316. The hosts eventually lost the contest by 10 wickets.
Read Five Best Test Knocks by Bangladesh Batters Against Sri Lanka: A Look Back
3) Mustafizur Rahman: 3/78 (P Sara Oval, Colombo, 2017)
Bangladesh’s only victory against Sri Lanka to date came in 2017 away from home. Left-arm medium-pacer, Mustafizur Rahman played an important role with the ball in Sri Lanka’s second innings of the second Test.
He removed three crucial Lankan batters and put the hosts under pressure. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 319 in their second innings, while Mustafizur Rahman finished his spell with 23-3-78-3. It was a brilliant effort by him to ensure Bangladesh had a comfortable total to chase.
2) Shakib Al Hasan: 4/74 (P Sara Oval, Colombo, 2017)
Bangladesh's ace all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, had a brilliant outing in Bangladesh’s historic victory in their 100th Test. In particular, his 4-wicket haul in the second innings helped Bangladesh bowl Sri Lanka out for 319. Shakib finished his spell with 36.2-9-74-4. Bangladesh only needed 191 runs to clinch the second match of the series, which they did quite comfortably in the end.
Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Series 2022: ICC WTC standings predictions for both teams
1) Shakib Al Hasan: 5/70 (Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur)
In 2008, Bangladesh put up a great fight against Sri Lanka in a home series Test match. They had created a genuine opportunity to upset a very strong Lankan Test side thanks to a great bowling performance in Sri Lanka’s first innings and Bangladesh’s second innings.
Shakib Al Hasan was magnificent with his left-arm spin as a strong Sri Lankan side was bowled out for 293. Shakib Al Hasan’s spell finished with 28.4-4-70-5. It has been one of the most dominant bowling performances by any Bangladesh bowler against Sri Lanka in the Test format.
Bottom Line
Over the years, Bangladesh bowlers have had a harder time than the batters in the longer-version format against Sri Lanka. One of the reasons for this is that bowlers have had fewer opportunities than batters, as Sri Lanka have sealed eight innings victories out of seventeen against Bangladesh.
Read IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs
In all, Bangladesh bowlers have recorded five five-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka, although not all of them have had the same effect. Therefore, not all five-wicket hauls were considered in the top five Bangladesh bowling performances in Tests against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh players will hopefully put in even more outstanding performances in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
FIFA takes on EA Sports video game in soccer’s new rivalry
The name “FIFA” can bring to mind images of the World Cup and soccer’s greatest players, like Pele, Zinedine Zidane or Lionel Messi. The acronym for the sport’s governing body may also remind some of shameless bribery and corruption.
For many, though, it’s the video game that is synonymous with FIFA.
For three decades, the Switzerland-based soccer body has enjoyed a flourishing, mutually beneficial relationship with EA Sports. The annual edition of the video game, alongside related products, has raked in billions of dollars and has proven to be so lucrative that FIFA thinks it can be making even more on its own.
FIFA severed the licensing deal partnership with Electronic Arts Inc. on Tuesday, making FIFA23 the last new EA game with the involvement of both sides.
They are now becoming opponents.
EA will continue to make soccer games with best players and biggest teams, they will just be stripped of the FIFA brand and instead called EA Sports FC.
Also Read: FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh play out goalless draw with Mongolia
Confusingly, perhaps, FIFA24 should also be on the shelves next year because the soccer body is determined to go ahead with its own launch.
EA has already begun to highlight its advantages over the FIFA game, given it has the rights to show 19,000 players from more than 700 teams in more than 30 leagues playing in 100 stadiums. Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will still be there, along with their best players.
“That is the only place that you can have an authentic, famous and fully representative football experience,” David Jackson, vice president of brand for EA SPORTS FIFA, told The Associated Press. “I do think that there is an element of potential confusion in the marketplace.”
The hyperbole from FIFA is already trying to undercut EA’s marketing by claiming it is in talks with multiple rival gaming companies and has plans to enter the metaverse.
“I can assure you,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “that the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans.”
How that will be achieved is far from clear, although FIFA does hold the rights to the biggest soccer show on earth. The World Cup will disappear from the EA game.
“The FIFA name is the only global, original title,” Infantino said. “FIFA 23, FIFA 24, FIFA 25 and FIFA 26, and so on — the constant is the FIFA name and it will remain forever and remain the best.”
That kind of bombastic talk puts pressure on FIFA to deliver on Infantino’s vision for a game that usurps the EA franchise despite not having the rights to feature leagues such as the Premier League — and the teams that play in them.
“New entrants would face a steep licensing curve to compete with EA,” said Andrew Marok, an analyst covering the digital media sector at investment bank Raymond James.
Soccer gaming is big business for EA. The annual report issued this week showed revenue of $6.19 billion.
“We’ve just had our biggest year — ever — for EA SPORTS FIFA games,” EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson told investors on Wednesday, a day after it was announced the FIFA deal would cease at the end of the year.
A huge part of the revenue comes from the Ultimate Team mode, where customers buy extra content in EA sports games. That generated $1.623 billion in 2021.
“We have historically derived a significant portion of our net revenue from sales related to our largest and most popular game, FIFA, annualized versions of which are consistently one of the best-selling games in the marketplace,” EA told investors.
Brand loyalty will be key starting next year. Will gamers stay with EA’s rebranded product or jump to the rival being launched by FIFA?
It’s already a competitive market with eFootball, the former Pro Evolution Soccer game produced by Japanese firm Konami. That game has a partnership with Manchester United, though the record 20-time English champions will still feature in EA’s game through a Premier League agreement.
EA has already warned its investors of the risks to its soccer gaming business from rivals.
“Any events or circumstances that negatively impact our FIFA franchise, such as product or service quality, other products that take a portion of consumer spending and time, the delay or cancellation of a product or service launch, increased competition for key licenses, or real or perceived security risks, could negatively impact our financial results to a disproportionate extent,” EA said in its annual report.
EA should get an edge over FIFA by retaining its 300 license partners, 30 leagues and federations, 700 teams and 19,000 athletes, JPMorgan analyst David Karnovsky said in a client note.
“While it’s difficult to think there won’t be at least some impact from the brand shift to sales, the $150 million available from the absence of a license fee to FIFA provides ample room for marketing to drive awareness around EA Sports FC,” Karnovsky wrote.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: GroupWise Favourites to Advance to Round of 16
Untangling itself from the world of soccer politics has its benefits for EA. Tensions between regional confederations have led to European body UEFA and South American counterpart CONMEBOL circumventing FIFA to launch their own meeting of champions. The debut of the Finalissima will see Italy and Argentina meet at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1. It would seem incongruous for EA to promote its FIFA game at the match.
“What name would we put on a perimeter board in a UEFA-CONMEBOL event? It’s really tough for us to put FIFA on there,” said Jackson, EA’s vice president of brand. “What has previously been a springboard for our brand, and an accelerant to it many years ago, has just become less valuable to us over time.”
EA might just have saved the FIFA brand as well. The fond association with the video game by so many fans has balanced against the toxicity of Sepp Blatter-era organization after the opening of sprawling criminal investigations into soccer corruption in 2015.
“If you ask a young football fan what FIFA is, they’re more likely to say a video game than they are the global governing body, but that value lives with us, I believe,” Jackson said. “We are the predominant voice in the world of football from an interactive entertainment perspective, and we don’t see a world where that changes.”
Cricket Australia: Sri Lanka tour still on despite unrest
Cricket Australia on Thursday said its all-formats tour of Sri Lanka is still going ahead despite a heightening of tension due to civil unrest in the south Asian island nation.
Australia’s government has advised nationals to reconsider their need to travel to Sri Lanka after unrest followed this week’s resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Also read: Bangladesh’s Five Memorable Test Knocks against Sri Lanka: A look back
Australia’s cricketers are due to travel to Sri Lanka in June and July to play three Twenty20 internationals, five one-day games and two test matches. An Australia A tour of Sri Lanka is planned at the same time.
A Cricket Australia spokesman said the sporting body, the federal government and Sri Lankan cricket officials were “keeping a close eye” on developments in the country.
Cricket Australia said the players and support staff had been briefed and, with three weeks until the squad's departure date, "there are no changes to the schedule.”
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s president promised to appoint a new prime minister, empower the Parliament and abolish the all-powerful executive presidential system as reforms aimed at stabilizing a country engulfed in a political and ecomonic crisis.
Also read: Sri Lanka leader vows to shed powers, appoint prime minister
In a televised address, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he condemned attacks on peaceful protesters by mobs who came to support his brother and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned Monday.
Five Best Test Knocks by Bangladesh Batters Against Sri Lanka: A Look Back
Bangladesh have played most of the 22 Test matches against Sri Lanka since becoming an ICC full member on June 26, 2000. In the longer-version format, Team Tigers has many memorable moments against the Lankan side. Some of Bangladesh's most remarkable Test knocks have come against Sri Lanka, which the fans will always remember. The two sides will meet again in a 2-match Test series starting on Sunday (May 15). There is an expectation that more remarkable individual performances will be witnessed during the 2022 BAN vs SL Test Series. Let’s refresh the old memories by looking back at Bangladesh’s five most outstanding Test knocks against Sri Lanka.
Brilliant individual Test innings by Bangladesh Players against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh batters have produced some remarkable individual Test innings against Sri Lanka. Here are five of Bangladesh's best individual innings that fans will never forget.
Mohammad Ashraful: 190 (Galle International Stadium, 2013)
As the scorecard indicates, the Galle pitch was a batting paradise. A total of eight centuries were scored in the match. Of those, three were scored by Bangladesh batters. However, displaying brilliant batsmanship against superior opposition while playing for a weaker team is never easy. That’s why Mohammad Ashraful’s 190-run knock in the first innings was a brilliant effort. The Bangladesh team also made a record in that particular innings by playing 196 overs, their most in Test cricket history.
Read Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Series 2022: ICC WTC standings predictions for both teams
Mushfiqur Rahim: 200 (Galle International Stadium, 2013)
Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladesh player to score 200 runs during the first innings of the first Test in the 2013 bilateral series against Sri Lanka. It was a marathon innings by him, who made a 267-run stand with Mohammad Ashraful in the fifth wicket partnership. Bangladesh went on to score 638, their highest-ever Test score in an innings. Mushfiqur Rahim won the Player of the Match award for his magnificent batting effort.
Shakib Al Hasan: 116 (P Sara Oval, Colombo, 2017)
Shakib Al Hasan always comes into the scene whenever Bangladesh need him to step in. That’s exactly what he did against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the second Test in 2017. Bangladesh were 192/4 when Shakib came into bat. The visitors needed someone to play a big knock and get past Sri Lanka’s first innings total (338). Thanks to Shakib’s timely 116-run knock, Bangladesh managed to score 467 in their first innings and took a 129-run lead. Bangladesh went on to win the contest by 4 wickets and finish the series 1-1.
Read BAN vs SL Test Series 2022: Five Crucial Players for Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal: 82 (P Sara Oval, Colombo, 2017)
Bangladesh made history in their 100th Test match, winning the contest by 4 wickets against Sri Lanka. Special credit should go to opener Tamim Iqbal, who played a responsible knock of 82 in the second innings and guided Bangladesh to a glorious victory. Chasing 191 runs on day-5 on a turning pitch was a daunting task. Thankfully, Tamim rose to the occasion and gave his side a strong start in the innings. When he departed, Bangladesh only required 60 more runs to clinch the match, which they did quite comfortably.
Mohammad Ashraful: 114 (Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, 2001)
The 17-year-old Mohammad Ashraful stunned the cricket world by scoring a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2001. He made 114 runs in the second innings and also had a century stand with veteran Aminul Islam Bulbul for the fifth wicket. Ashraful also became the youngest Test centurion ever with that hundred. It is one of the best-ever Test knocks by a Bangladeshi batter.
Read IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs
Bottom Line
A total of 15 centuries have been scored against Sri Lanka by Bangladesh players, and the majority of them were some efforts. Besides, the importance of some small innings also can’t be overlooked. Therefore, picking the best five was a difficult task. However, the above-mentioned have been the most memorable batting performances against Sri Lanka by Bangladesh players. The cricketers of the current Bangladesh squad can take inspiration from these innings to give their best effort in the BAN vs SL Test series 2022.