CWC23: Sri Lanka opt to bat first in warm-up match against Bangladesh

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first against Bangladesh in the warm-up match of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, India on Friday.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said: “We will bat first, looks like a good pitch. There will be some movement for the pacers in the evening. We had a really great Asia Cup, unfortunate about the final. I was personally looking for more runs, but I’m sure everybody will deliver in this tournament. We are going in with seven batters, will use an extra batter today.”
  

Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz on the other hand was happy to bowl first: “We wouldn’t have batted first. We have prepared for a couple of months and it has been a good opportunity for the players playing the World Cup. We have a few changes today, lots of guys are resting.”

A total of 10 teams are vying for the coveted World Cup trophy in the 13th edition of the marquee event. India qualified by virtue of being hosts while New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa progressed from the Super League.

Sri Lanka and the Netherlands had to grind it out in the Qualifier to progress to the World Cup.

The biggest men’s event of the cricket calendar will span 48 matches across 10 venues, commencing on 5 October with the rematch of the Final of the previous edition between defending Champions England and New Zealand.

Before the start of the World Cup, each team will play two warm-up matches to get in the groove for the 46-day-long tournament.

The ODI World Cup kicks off with warm-up matches at three different locations: Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Hyderabad.


Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahmudullah Riyad.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera.