www.icc-cricket.com: After losing to Sri Lanka in the final of the triangular one-day international series and then losing 1-0 in the two-Test series against the same opponents, Bangladesh have the two-match Twenty20 International series now to re-establish some of their authority.

Coming off a massive 215-run win in a low-scoring second and final Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Sri Lanka will seek to extend their dominance at the same venue in the first T20I on Thursday (15 February). Interestingly, Sri Lanka, like Bangladesh, are without their first-choice captain: Angelo Mathews and Shakib Al Hasan are both recovering from injuries. While Mathews has been out of action because of a hamstring injury, Shakib, who has not sufficiently recovered from a finger injury, is expected to return to the side for the second T20I.

Sri Lanka will be led by Dinesh Chandimal, their Test captain who last featured in a T20I against South Africa in January last year. A lot will depend on his ability to steady the innings alongside Upul Tharanga, with the likes of Niroshan Dickwella doing the big hitting. Sri Lanka have also found a replacement for the injured Kusal Perera in Kusal Mendis, who is coming off a good run, including a career-best 196 in Chittagong, in the Test series.

In the bowling department, they have Jeevan Mendis, the leg-spinning all-rounder who last played a T20I when he turned out against South Africa in 2013. Sri Lanka have a mix of young talented spinners too in Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay and Amila Aponso. And with Suranga Lakmal rested, young pacers Asitha Fernando and Shehan Madushanka, who picked up a hat-trick on his international debut in the triangular series final which Sri Lanka won, have been given a chance.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be guided by Mahmudullah, and have a host of newcomers in their side. They have four uncapped players in Abu Jahed Rahi, Ariful Haque, Zakir Hasan and Afif Hossain. Bangladesh will rely on the experience of Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah in the batting department, while Mustafizur Rahman will lead the bowling unit, which also has Rubel Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin and Abu Hider Rony, who is back in the squad after last turning out for Bangladesh at the ICC World T20 2016.

Sri Lanka hold a good record against Bangladesh in T20Is, having won five of the seven head-to-head encounters, but, importantly, Bangladesh have won their only face-off in Dhaka, in February 2016 during the Asia Cup.

Bangladesh sweat over Tamim, Mushfiqur fitness

Dhaka (AFP): Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim and opener Tamim Iqbal have added to Bangladesh’s injury woes ahead of their first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Dhaka on Thursday. 

Tamim complained of muscle pain in his left arm and Mushfiqur did not train on Wednesday because of a wrist injury. 

Bangladesh selectors have added batsman Mohammad Mithun to the squad as cover. 

“Tamim felt some pain in his bicep all of sudden yesterday. This is why we are still waiting to decide our combination,” stand-in skipper Mahmudullah said Wednesday.“There are also some concerns about Mushfiqur as he has niggles on his wrist. But we hope he will be alright.” Bangladesh are without regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, who failed to recover from a finger injury sustained during the tri-series one-day tournament final in January. The final T20 of the two-match series will be played in Sylhet on Sunday. 

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the tri-series final, before winning the Test series 1-0.