Spin-heavy Bangladesh to face upbeat Sri Lanka in 1st Test

CHITTAGONG: AFP Bangladesh are depending on their spin force led by veteran Abdur Razzaq to deliver the opening punch against Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests starting Wednesday. 

Razzaq, 35, was the third spinner added to the squad for the match in Chittagong after skipper and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out with a finger injury. 

Uncapped left-arm orthodox spinner Sunzumul Islam and leg-spinner Tanbir Hayder are also part of the 16-man squad to be led by Mahmudullah Riyad. 

Razzak, who played the last of his 12 Tests against West Indies in 2014, is determined to prove that the selectors made the right call. 

“Shakib is the best player, not just in our team (but) he is also the best all-rounder in the world,” Razzak told reporters in Chittagong on Monday. 

“It’s difficult to replace him because you need to pick a bowler and batsman in his place and still there is no guarantee that they will perform equally good. 

“I will try to play my normal game without trying anything extraordinary,” the left-arm spinner said. 

Bangladesh have been a dominant home side after registering memorable Test wins against England and Australia in the 2016-17 season. 

But their only Test win against Sri Lanka came in their landmark 100th Test in Colombo, when the visitors drew the two-match series 1-1. 

Sri Lanka, led by Dinesh Chandimal, are upbeat after their recent triumph in the tri-series one-day international tournament. They beat Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday. 

They will also seek inspiration from their 2-0 Test triumph over Pakistan in the UAE last year. 

However Sri Lanka also have a gap to fill after veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews was ruled out of the first game due to injury. 

Manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed that the team would not seek a replacement for Mathews.  Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have so far played 18 Tests against each other, with the islanders winning 15 of them. 

Squads: Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riyad (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamrul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Naeem Hasan, Sunzamul Islam, Tanbir Hayder, Abdur Razzak. 

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara.

Bangladesh recall Razzak for Sri Lanka Test

AFP: Dhaka: Bangladesh have included veteran spinner Abdur Razzak in place of injured Shakib Al Hasan for the first Test against Sri Lanka, a team official said.

Shakib was ruled out of the Test starting Wednesday in Chittagong after injuring a little finger during the tri-series final against the islanders last weekend. 

The 35-year-old Razzak, who bowls left-arm spin, was recalled to the side four years after he played his last Test against the West Indies in 2014. 

“It is not easy to find a replacement for Shakib. We need someone experienced to replace him. Sunzamul has yet to play any Test, so we recalled Razzak,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. 

“Now we will see his fitness in training before we finally include him in the playing team,” he said. 

Razzak, one of three Bangladeshis to take more than 200 wickets in one-day internationals, played only 12 Tests after making his debut in 2006. He picked up 23 wickets. 

He showed his form with the red ball in the ongoing domestic first-class competition, Bangladesh Cricket League, where he took 20 wickets in three matches. 

During the tournament he grabbed the spotlight by becoming the first Bangladeshi player to take 500 wickets in first-class cricket. 

The second Test is in Dhaka, starting on 8 February. 

Bangladesh will also play two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka.