Desk Report,
Can Bangladesh be optimistic just because of T20?
Any form of cricket is difficult against Sri Lanka on Sri Lankan soil. But T20 seems not to be that difficult for Bangladesh. At least that is what the statistics say. Now is Liton Das’ time. Don’t take it any other way. He may not have played in the last two ODIs because he didn’t have runs in his bat, but he is the captain in T20 and the Bangladesh team now has numerous T20 matches ahead of him.
Can Bangladesh be optimistic just because of T20?
The T20 Asia Cup in September this year, followed by the T20 World Cup next year. So now is the time for T20, and now is the time for T20 captain Liton Das. However, there is no guarantee whether the time will be ‘good’ or not. Today is the first of three T20 matches against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. The next two matches are in Dambulla and Colombo. Given the consistency with which the second Test and ODI series of the Sri Lanka tour have progressed, there may not be many people who are optimistic about T20. Although past experience gives hope, something good can happen in T20 in Sri Lanka. Besides, in cricket terms, it is a new series, a completely different version of cricket. Why should we talk about ODIs and Tests here! Bangladesh captain Liton also said at the pre-series press conference at Pallekele Stadium tomorrow, ‘This is a different version. Everyone knows how to play T20s. We will try that way.’

Any version of cricket is difficult against Sri Lanka on Sri Lankan soil. However, T20 seems not to be that difficult for Bangladesh. At least that is what the statistics say. Bangladesh has played five T20s against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka so far, winning three, while Sri Lanka has won two. However, one of those two matches is in Pallekele, where the first match of the series is this evening. The Bangladesh team lost the only T20 played at this ground in March 2013.
Home captain Charit Asalanka may not be calling himself the clear favorite in this series, keeping statistics in mind. In yesterday’s press conference, he showed respect for Bangladesh as an opponent, saying, “Bangladesh is a good T20 player.”
