Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will play a One-Day International series starting on May 23. Sri Lanka's 18-member team has already arrived in Bangladesh. On the other hand, the BCB declared a 23-member Bangladesh squad for the bilateral series earlier this month. There are some outstanding cricketers on both sides who have the ability to change the flow of a game and lead their side to victory on any given day. Ahead of the three-match bilateral ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, we tried to make a combined ODI XI 2021 between the two sides, which has been discussed in this article.
The best combined ODI XI 2021 from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
M: 213 |Runs: 7,452 |HS: 158 |Avg: 36.89 |100s: 13 |SR: 78.36
Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal is one of the best batsmen in the ODI format over the last five years. Tamim has the ability to play till the end of the innings. In 2021, he has scored 250 runs in six matches at an average of 41.66 and made three fifties.
Read Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 2021: ODI Series Preview
Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
M:34 |Runs:767 |HS:97|Avg:27.39|100s:0|SR:74.39
Seasoned opener DimuthKarunaratne is a reliable batsman. He hasn't played many ODIs as he made a late entry in the Sri Lankan national team. 33-year old Karunaratne has only played 34 One-Day Internationals so far. In 2021, he participated in 3 matches and scored 84 runs at an average of 28.
KusalPerera (Sri Lanka)
M:101|Runs:2,825|HS:135|Avg:30.71|100s:05|SR:92.62
Sri Lanka's ODI captain KusalPerera is a brilliant batsman. Sri Lanka beat the South African Test team in their own backyard two years ago, thanks to KusalPerera's outstanding innings. Kusal is yet to play an ODI this season.
Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
M:224|Runs:6,344|HS:144|Avg:36.25|100s:07|SR:78.74
Mushfiqur Rahim is the most reliable batsman in the middle order of Bangladesh. He is also one of the best batsmen in the history of Bangladesh cricket. This year, he made a total of 170 runs at an average of 42.50.
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
M:209|Runs:6,436|HS:134|Avg:37.86|100s:09|SR:82.35
M:209|Wkts:266|BBI:5/29|Avg:29.73|SR:40.04|Econ:4.45
Bangladesh's best-ever cricketer Shakib Al Hasan will feature in this ODI series against Sri Lanka. He was the most prolific all-rounder in the past decade. Shakib has 113 runs and 6 wickets in three matches in 2021.
Read India vs New Zealand Final: Who Will Win the ICC Test Championship 2021?
KusalMendis (Sri Lanka)
M:76|Runs:2,167|HS:119|Avg:30.52|100s:02|SR:84.68
Sri Lankan cricketer KusalMendis is another talented player. He has the potential to be one of Sri Lanka's best weapons in the upcoming series. KusalMendis has yet to appear in an ODI match this year.
Mahmudullah Riyad (Bangladesh)
M:194|Runs:4,262|HS:128|Avg:34.65|100s:03|SR:77.24
M:194|Wkts:76|BBI:3/4|Avg:47.01|SR:54.53|Econ:5.17
The "Silent Killer" MahmudullahRiyad is a dangerous middle-order batsman. He can be lethal with the bat at the end of an innings. Riyad has scored 192 runs at an average of 96 in six matches this year.
Mohammad Saifuddin (Bangladesh)
M:24|Runs:302|HS:51|Avg:33.56|100s:0|SR:88.05
M:24|Wkts:34 |BBI:4/41|Avg:31.35|SR:32.09|Econ:5.86
Mohammad Saifuddin has been dubbed as the next MashrafeMortaza. He is equally competent with the bat and the ball. Saifuddin has already played several effective innings at the international level. He has taken three wickets and scored 12 runs in two matches this year.
AkilaDananjaya (Sri Lanka)
M:36|Wkts:51|BBI:6/29|Avg:29.53|SR:34.76|Econ:5.10
Right-arm off-spinner, AkilaDananjaya is a potent bowler. He's great at picking up wickets when needed. Dananjaya has already established himself as a key member of Sri Lanka's national team. This year, he hasn't played an ODI match.
Read Bangladesh's Predicted XI: If ODI and Test Teams Played on the Same Day
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
M:64|Wkts:118|BBI:6/43|Avg:23.27|SR:26.61|Econ:5.25
Cutter-master Mustafizur Rahman is the most dependable bowler in the current Bangladesh team. The Fizz bowled well in the postponed IPL 2021 and his bowling prowess is coming back. Mustafiz has got a total of 9 wickets in 6 matches this year.
Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh)
M:36|Wkts:48|BBI:5/28|Avg:32.81|SR:33.48|Econ:5.88
Taskin Ahmed returned to the national team earlier this year after being sidelined for two years due to injury. He is now much more mature and self-assured than he was before. Taskin has three wickets in four matches in 2021.
Bottom Line
Finding the best XI from the two teams is always a difficult task. Recent form and experience were considered to select the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Combined ODI XI 2021. Since the Bangladesh squad has much more experience than the current Sri Lankan team, the majority of the players in the XI are Bangladeshis. However, the Sri Lankan team has the talent to stun the opposition in the upcoming series.
Read Ban vs SL 2021: How Bangladesh can clinch the ODI series against Sri Lanka