Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are also aiming to win the last game to register a clean-sweep. They are confident after winning the series on home ground after 44 months.
In the first game of the series, the last ODI appearance of Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka overpowered the Tigers riding on the century of Kusal Perera and a superb bowling effort from Malinga. The hosts replicated their clinical performance in the second game and sealed the series with one match to spare.
Now, they are looking to make it 3-0. The Sri Lankan cricket board decided to dedicate the last game to Nuwan Kulasekara, the 37-year old pacer who recently announced his retirement.
But Bangladesh’s interim captain Tamim Iqbal, who is yet to enjoy his maiden stint as the ODI captain, said they are up to destroy the party of Sri Lanka.
“We still have a chance to win and make it 2-1. What we’ve done so far in the series isn’t something to cheer about. To be honest, we’ve failed to play as a team,” Tamim told reporters on Tuesday.
“We couldn’t play in the first two games the way we wanted to. If we can win the last game, it’ll be a satisfactory end for us. At the same time, we have to win it for the people who follow us back in the home. They want us to win even a single game,” he added.
According to Tamim, Bangladesh failed to display their brand of cricket in every department of the game.
“We’ve failed in batting, we couldn't come up with a good plan while bowling and we also disappointed in the fielding department. It won't be a fair move to blame the bowlers only. I think we all are responsible for what we’ve done in the series so far. We’ve to step up in every department of the game to bring the result our way in the last game,” Tamim said.
Mushfiqur Rahim struck two fifties in the series. He was the only batsman to show some prowess against the disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. But batsmen like Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, and Mohammad Mithun were poor in the middle. Their dismal show with the bat is one of the biggest reasons behind Bangladesh’s unexpected outcome in the series.
At the same time, Mahmudulllah Riyad’s off-form and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat’s dull appearance also contributed to Bangladesh’s failure.
Bangladesh might bring some changes in their playing XI in the last game. Anamul Haque might get a chance in place of Soumya or Mahmudulalh, and Taskin Ahmed might be added in place of Mehidy Hasan Miraz or Shafiul Islam.
The match will start at 3pm (BdST), and Maasranga, GTV and BTV will broadcast it live.
Probable XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mihtun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Anamul Haque/Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan/ Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.