Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam said on Wednesday the government plans to launch National Water Grid Line to ensure safe water supply across the country, including the coastal areas. He said this while addressing virtually the Governing Board Meeting-2021 at The Regional Center on Urban Water Management (RCUWM). He also called on member states to launch inter-border water grid lines to deal with regional water issues. Safe drinking water supply has become a challenge not only in the coastal areas but also in some other parts of the country, Tajul said. This challenge would be met if water could be supplied through zones and sub-zones via the National Water Grid Line, he mentioned. The LGRD Minister also proposed to explore the possibility of taking the idea of constructing a cross-border water grid between Bangladesh and RCUWM member countries. Ministers of Water Ministries of 18 countries and members of international organizations including UNESCO, UNDP, FAO, WMO, IWA, IsDB participated in this virtual conference chaired by the Iranian Minister of Energy.

Bangladesh right-arm off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz has become the number two ODI bowler in the latest ICC rankings. Before taking the field in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, Mehidy was the number five bowler. He bagged four wickets in the first game and scalped three in the second, which helped him climb three spots and earn his career-best ranking. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman also claimed the ninth spot in the ranking after taking six wickets in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka. Shakib became the number one ODI bowler in 2009 as the first Bangladeshi, and Abdur Razzak became the number two bowler in the format the next year. After hitting 84 and 125 against the Lankan Lions, Mushfiqur Rahim has become the number 14 batsman in ODI and Mahmudullah Riyad 38 after his 54 and 41. Riding on Mehidy, Mustafizur, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, Bangladesh already sealed the series with one match to play on May 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday congratulated the national cricket team on winning the first match in the three-match ODI home series against Sri Lanka by 33 runs. Also read: Tigers beat Lions despite Hasaranga scare In a message, the Prime Minister greeted all the players, the coach and the officials of the national cricket team as well as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials concerned for beating Sri Lanka in the match.

Mushfiqur Rahim smashed an 87-ball 84 to help the Tigers post a challenging total in the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Riding on his bat, Bangladesh posted 257 for six after winning the toss and won the match by 33 runs. "I stuck to my strengths and took my time. I had to keep one end safe and that's what I did. The finishing touch from Riyad and Afif was superb," Mushfiqur said after the game. "It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on. As Shakib and Liton got out early, there was pressure. Tamim batted well and he allowed me to take my time. And then Riyad was superb. These conditions aren't ideal to play; it's not just hot, the humidity takes a lot out of you but the credit goes to our players," he added. Mushfiqur scored 84, Tamim 52 and Mahmuduallah 54, helping the Tigers overcome the initial batting damage. And Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged four wickets and Mustafizur Rahman took three to confine the Lankans within 224 runs and seal the game.   This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event will directly qualify for the World Cup 2023. Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three. Sri Lanka played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all. The remaining games of the ODI series will be played on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.

Bangladesh won the first match of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka by 33 runs, defying a strong resistance from Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The Tigers won the toss and posted 257 runs for six after choosing to bat first. In reply, Sri Lanka started well as Danushka Gunathilaka and captain Kusal Perera added 30 runs in the first wicket stand. Just when they started building a solid foundation, Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck. Mehidy, the number five bowler in the ICC ODI ranking, took four wickets conceding 30 runs in 10 overs. Sri Lanka showed some resistance in the sixth and seventh-wicket stands, posting 47 and 62 runs. However, Hasaranga posed the strongest challenge to the Tigers, scoring 74 off 60 balls with six sixes and three fours. The right-handed batsman was guiding the Lankans to a victory which seemed unlikely before he took the field. Hasaranga finally fell prey to Mohammad Saifuddin when Sri Lanka needed 47 runs to win in six overs. The Lankans eventually managed to score 224 for 10 in 48.1 overs. Saifuddin took two wickets while Shakib Al Hasan bagged one and it was his 1000th wicket in the recognised cricket. Earlier, despite losing four wickets for 99 runs, Bangladesh posted 257 runs for six wickets in 50 overs in the first innings after choosing to bat first. Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest run-getter in this game who scored 84 off 87 balls with four fours and one six. Tamim Iqbal hit 52 while Mahmudullah Riyad posted 54 to help the Tigers post a challenging total. In the fifth wicket stand, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah added 109 runs off 122 balls – the highest partnership in Bangladesh's innings. After 40 overs, Bangladesh were batting at 193 for four. They needed to come up with some big shots in the last 10 overs, but the dismissals of Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah made it difficult for the hosts. In the sixth and seventh-wicket stands, Bangladesh added 22 and 27. In the end, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten for 27 and 13 off 22 and 9 balls. Both Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun got dismissed for a duck in this game. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva was outstanding with the ball. He bagged three wickets with two-in-two conceding 47 runs. Dushmantha Chameera, Danushka Gunathilaka and Lakshan Sandakan took a wicket each. This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three. The top seven teams of this event will directly qualify for the World Cup 2023. Sri Lanka played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all. The remaining matches of the series will take place on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.

Bangladesh national cricket team will play an intrasquad game Friday in Savar's BKSP – the only practice game to be played by the hosts ahead of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka which starts on May 23 in Dhaka. The visitors will also play a practice game at the same venue on Friday. Bangladesh started preparing for this series on May 18. However, most parts of the first-day practice session got interrupted by the rain. However, the Tigers had a full-day practice Wednesday at the outdoor and indoor of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. In the intra-squad match, Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal will lead the BCB Red against T20 captain Mahmududllah Riayd's BCB Green. The match will start at 9:45am Thursday. Tamim's team includes Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman. Mahmudullah's team contains the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar and Taskin Ahmed. Shakib and Mustafizur are set to return to the national side with the three-match ODI series. They last played for the Tigers in New Zealand earlier this year. After that, the players missed out on the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka as they took part in the Indian Premier League. While the first match of the ODI series will take place on May 23, the remaining matches will be played on May 25 and 28. All the matches will be hosted at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will play in the ODI series against Sri Lanka that means a full-strength Bangladesh team will play in the upcoming 3-match ODI series, which will not be pleasant for the opponents. Because Sri Lanka lags behind Bangladesh in terms of strength in limited-overs cricket. In addition, Bangladesh are a difficult opponent in their own backyard. However, Sri Lanka are gaining confidence as a couple of senior players will make a comeback to the squad. Overall, cricket fans are waiting for a thrilling contest. This article discusses how Bangladesh can clinch the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Here are five things Bangladesh need to do to win the series against Sri Lanka The 3 matches ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will start later this month. The first match will be held on May 23 at the SBNCS, Mirpur and the rest of the matches will take place at the same venue on May 25 and May 28 respectively. Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ODI series 2021: Expected personal milestones to Reach Veteran Tamim Iqbal's visionary captaincy Tamim Iqbal is still learning the ropes as a leader. He needs more time in order to mature as a captain. Tamim should not be afraid to make critical decisions when needed. Tamim Iqbal is a reserved person, but he needs to be more constructive if he is to lead the team. He must inspire the bowlers and extend his decision-making, especially when fielding. The captain's personality may have an impact on the team's performance. That's why the emphasis should be on his efforts that motivate the team to succeed. Tamim Iqbal will advance one step further in his captaincy if Bangladesh win the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Making an effective plan for each match Having a proper game plan and using an effective strategy is important in ODI cricket. To succeed in the limited-overs format, you must first understand the opponent's weaknesses before putting together the best playing 11 for the contest. Bangladesh have a very strong spin attack and Sri Lankan spinners are equally good as well. In that situation, the tigers' team management must formulate a coherent strategy to defeat the Lankans. Bangladeshi pacers have lately performed better than spinners, which is great news for the team tigers'. They now have a lot of options for pace bowling. It is possible to do well in the ODI series against Sri Lanka if the strategy is properly implemented. In this case, the commitment of the players is important, and the team manager must assume responsibility. Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka series 2021: ODI Ranking Prediction Forming big partnerships for a winnable total After scoring a half-century, Bangladeshi batsmen usually lose focus. It is extremely disappointing that cricketers have yet to develop the mentality of playing long innings. Big partnerships will be vital if Bangladesh want to whitewash Sri Lanka for the first time. Players should not be content with just a fifty. They must concentrate on making a score of a hundred or even a hundred and fifty. If Bangladesh bat first, they should aim to score high. The opposition team will be under pressure if Bangladesh post a huge total to defend. Batsmen must improve their fighting instinct, particularly when they are under extreme pressure. Then we can expect positive outcomes from the match. Focus on getting all the wickets of the opponent A team must be capable of taking all ten wickets to win ODIs on a regular basis. Thankfully, Bangladesh are now one of the toughest one-day international sides in the world, with enough quality bowlers to threaten any batting line-up. Spinners typically have the advantage on subcontinent pitches. Therefore, the Bangladeshi spinners must bear most of the responsibility in the series against Sri Lanka. Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, and Mahadi Hasan all can put the Lankan batters under a lot of pressure. Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, and Taskin Ahmed are all capable pacers who can put the Lankan batsmen on the back foot. Therefore, picking up all ten wickets would not be a difficult task if Bangladesh bowlers play to their full ability. Minimize fielding errors Bangladesh's fielders have been underwhelming since resuming international cricket in January. Players are now making a lot of errors in ground fielding, they are dropping catches, and sometimes appearing uninterested at times. All of these are worrying matters, particularly when playing international cricket. At any level of cricket, players must keep their attention on fielding. They must always be proactive on the ground because one massive mistake could cost them the match. Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Key ODI Records Bottom Line Bangladesh are now one of the strong ODI teams in the world. Bangladesh have been doing well in the limited-overs home series as well as in major ICC events. Every match is very important as the series against the Lankans is part of the ICC ODI World Cup Super League. Not just Bangladesh can clinch the ODI series against Sri Lanka, they will even try to whitewash the Lankans as each match is worth ten points. So, we can expect every match will be exciting.  

Bangladesh allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin has said that he is looking forward to doing well in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting from May 23 in Dhaka. Bangladesh’s last ODI series was in New Zealand against the hosts where they lost 3-0. They failed to pose any challenge to the Kiwis. But Saifuddin believes they can overcome that failure at home. “It was very disappointing to lose all the games in New Zealand. We failed to play according to our ability,” Saifuddin told the media on Friday during a training session at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium ahead of the series. Also read: Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series: Tigers start practising “Now we are set to play a series against Sri Lanka at home. I hope we can do better in this series. We have been working very hard during Ramadan, and many of us are fasting as well. We lost a Test series against them recently, so it’s a good chance to do well against them in ODIs. And at the same time, there are World Cup Super League points to grab from this series. So we have to do well,” Saifuddin added. Bangladesh are currently placed at number six at the World Cup Super League points table with six wins and as many as defeats from six games. The top seven teams of this event will qualify to the World Cup 2023 with the hosts India. Also read: Saifuddin eying a spot in Test team “The first ten overs are crucial to set a good foundation. So if we want to do well against the islanders, we have to take some quick wickets when we bowl first and we have to bat well when we bat first. We failed to do this in New Zealand. Now we are going to play at the familiar wicket and condition, so we have a good chance to do well,” Saifuddin added. The 24-year-old allrounder played a total of 24 ODIs so far and bagged 34 wickets with the best of taking four conceding 41 runs and amassed 302 runs with two fifties. The allrounder played only two ODIs against Sri Lanka and failed to shine as he scored only 14 runs in two scalped a wicket.

Bangladesh left-handed top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar has said that he is not bothered much about what has happened in the New Zealand tour earlier this year, he rather is looking forward to winning the home series against Sri Lanka later in May. Bangladesh national team is currently gearing up for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting from May 23. Soumya missed the two-match Test series against the same opponent which was played recently.  “We have been working hard to forget what we have done in New Zealand. We are looking forward to doing well in the home series against Sri Lanka,” Soumya told the reporters on Wednesday. “Every series is important for us. We are hopeful of keeping the title of the home series at the home and we will come up with a good brand of cricket,” he added. Bangladesh played the last ODI series in New Zealand. The hosts won the series 3-0. Bangladesh failed to pose any strong challenge in that series. During that contest, Bangladesh missed the service of the ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan who was on leave. But he is set to join the team in this home series.  “It’s a big thing that we will get the service of Shakib back,” Soumya added. “And we will also have the service of Mustafizur (Rahman) who was playing well in IPL. They are set to make a comeback together. I hope they will complete the series well.” The Tigers played a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2019 in Sri Lanka which the hosts won 3-0. Soumya believes if Bangladesh can play according to their ability, the series would be an exciting one.  “When we take the field we eye to win. In this series, we will go match by match. At first, we have to win the opening game, then we will try to win the second one,” Soumya added. Soumya played 61 ODIs till the date but failed to cement his place in the national team. He scored 1768 runs in an average of 32.14 with two centuries and 11 fifties. He also bagged 11 wickets with the best of 3 for 56.